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<\/p>\nAll of a sudden, Michael Maguire has a headache on his hands.<\/p>\n
Payne Haas shocked the NRL world on Sunday, revealing he would quit the Broncos and sign a three-year deal with Wayne Bennett\u2019s Rabbitohs ahead for the 2027 season onwards.<\/p>\n
So, where to now for the Broncos?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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Watch the 2026 NRL Pre-season series plus the All-Star matches LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1<\/a>.<\/p>\n Any team losing a player of Haas\u2019 calibre would take a hit. The 26-year-old is the NRL\u2019s premier prop and is on a trajectory to become the all-time greatest player in the position.<\/p>\n He leaves a gaping hole in the middle \u2014 while CODE Sports is reporting that Adam Reynolds is also set to hang up the boots.<\/p>\n While Reynolds wasn\u2019t contracted in 2027, like Haas, the Brisbane club would have been planning to accommodate that pair in their salary cap.<\/p>\n Haas was reportedly set to earn around $1.1 million on his next Broncos contract, while Reynolds is earning a reported $500,000 on his current deal.<\/p>\n Therefore Brisbane bosses now have north of $1.5 million at their disposal to make a splash in the open market.<\/p>\n Brisbane Broncos player Payne Haas will leave the club.Source: Supplied Source Known<\/p>\n As it stands, the Broncos\u2019 squad is in a strong position when it comes to their spine, with the No.7 jersey set to be filled by rising star Jonah Pezet in 2027.<\/p>\n He\u2019ll arrive at Red Hill after a year at the Eels and will partner Ezra Mam, with that pairing locked down long-term in an impressive piece of business.<\/p>\n Superstar Reece Walsh is also signed until 2029 while their captain and lock Pat Carrigan is contracted until the end of 2028.<\/p>\n So the last big decision Maguire needs to make regarding his long-term spine is who will wear the No.9 and the Broncos aren\u2019t short of dummy-half talent.<\/p>\n Veteran Ben Hunt is set to slot into the role come Round 1, while both Cory Paix and Billy Walters have 12 months left on their respective contracts.<\/p>\n The wildcard in this equation is young gun Blake Mozer, who has long been touted as the club\u2019s future hooker.<\/p>\n He failed to feature in the NRL last season with injuries plaguing his campaign, but he has nine NRL appearances to his name since a debut in 2023.<\/p>\n Mozer is contracted until 2027, so he will be desperate to make his mark and join Hunt atop the hooking ranks.<\/p>\n Reynolds likely to retire at end of 2026 | 00:33<\/p>\n Get all the latest news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports NRL Sportmail. Sign up now!!! <\/a><\/p>\n Maguire, meanwhile, will be forced to make some big decisions this season regarding the make-up of his hooking stocks.<\/p>\n Should Hunt perform this season and have a desire to go around again, some of their cap space could be utilised in re-signing the veteran in 2027.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Brisbane will likely keep one of Walters or Paix, with the latter reportedly being shopped to rivals during the 2025 season despite his strong performances.<\/p>\n Walters, meanwhile, is a valuable squad player given he can also slot into the halves, adding depth to the No.6 jersey behind Mam.<\/p>\n But none of these decisions will make a serious dent in their free cap space \u2014 meaning the Broncos could make a splash outside their spine.<\/p>\n Having lost Tyson Smoothy (Trinity Wakefield), Kobe Hetherington (Sea Eagles) and Fletcher Baker (Bulldogs) already this year, there\u2019s an argument to say the Broncos\u2019 pack is running thin.<\/p>\n Throw Haas\u2019 departure in the mix and a gaping hole emerges.<\/p>\n Dolphins recruit Aublix Tawha has made a splash in his first Brisbane pre-season and is set to join the prop rotation.<\/p>\n But without Haas in 2027, Maguire is left with Tawha, Corey Jensen, Xavier Willison, Ben Te Kura and Ben Talty in his front row stocks.<\/p>\n They are impressive talents who will undoubtedly step up, but a handful of injuries could seriously hamper this forward pack and Maguire may look to recruit a prop.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/p>\n \u2018Unknown\u2019 rookie creates fresh headache; clear verdict on halves battle: Trials Talking Pts<\/a><\/p>\n What Haas move means for Broncos, Bunnies… as Wayne comes full circle on $300k rule<\/a><\/p>\n