Broncos brawl video: Broncos defend star Payne Haas as prop faces police investigation

Brisbane’s chairman has broken his silence to launch a staunch defence of star Payne Haas, who now faces a police investigation over his scuffle with Albert Kelly.

Star Broncos prop Payne Haas has told an NRL integrity-unit investigation he was not drunk on the night of his explosive altercation with Brisbane teammate Albert Kelly.

The NRL is expected to hand down a verdict against Haas and Kelly in the next 24 hours after the Broncos duo were quizzed by integrity-unit officers on Monday following leaked footage of the pair clashing a fortnight ago.

News Corp can reveal fresh details about the Kelly-Haas bust up. It is understood the clash between the pair broke out as Broncos players celebrated the birthday of Kelly, who turned 31 the day after Brisbane’s round 2 defeat of the Bulldogs in Sydney on Sunday, March 20.

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But the birthday bash turned sour when the 117kg Haas reacted to Kelly, calling him a “f***ing c***” before unleashing a left jab which connected with the much-smaller Broncos player, who was heavily intoxicated.

It is understood Haas, a Muslim who began observing Ramadan last Friday, told the Broncos and NRL investigators he was sober in the lead-up to his confrontation with Kelly.

Haas’ stance came as the NSW Police launched an investigation into the scuffle given that the Broncos prop remains on a good-behaviour bond after being charged last year for intimidating police at Tweed Heads.

It is understood Brisbane’s report, sent to NRL integrity-unit chiefs, identified Kelly as the instigator. Sources close to the incident suggest Kelly was being a “drunken pest” and earned the ire of Haas after repeatedly jumping on his shoes, prompting the prop to lash out.

Broncos players Payne Haas and Albert Kelly were involved in a physical altercation.

Haas has a lengthy rap sheet, fined a total of $70,000 by Brisbane and the NRL and hit with seven matches in suspensions for two off-field indiscretions in the past three years, but he may escape serious sanctions if the integrity unit accepts his claim he was sober.

A third major offence could leave Haas in danger of being deregistered by the NRL, but Broncos chairman Karl Morris rallied in support of the 22-year-old, saying he has made genuine efforts at reformation since his run-in with police last year.

“Payne has come from a disadvantaged background and we have worked very hard with Payne away from football,” Morris said.

“He has been committed to improving himself, I had dinner with Payne recently and he has come a long way as a person over the past 12 months.

“What happened with Payne last year was a disaster, but this is far removed from that.

“This didn’t involve police, this was an incident involving two of our players.

Payne Haas arrives at the Broncos clubhouse, Red Hill, on Monday. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“It was Albert Kelly’s birthday and obviously he had too much to drink. We’ve sent our report to the NRL and we’ll await their findings.”

It is the third drunken bust-up to engulf the club in three years after Broncos prop Tom Flegler punched Jordan Riki at their Mad Monday booze-up last year, leaving Riki needing stitches to a busted lip.

In December 2019, former Broncos prop Matt Lodge unleashed a volley of punches on then teammate Jack Bird, now at the Dragons, after a Brisbane bonding session spun out of control.

The Broncos reported the Kelly-Haas clash to the NRL integrity unit on Sunday night after receiving footage of the pair clashing near their team hotel in Sydney.

In the 13-second video, it appears the clash was sparked by Kelly stepping on Haas’ foot, with the five-eighth saying: “Why would I step on your shoes?”

Haas, wearing a white baseball cap and jumper, has his left arm extended, grabbing Kelly by the throat, and is heard to say, ‘You f***ing c***’, before making contact with Kelly’s face with his left fist.

After reeling from the blow, Kelly walks back towards Haas and repeats himself, saying, ‘Hey, I’m not going to step on your shoes’, prompting a furious Haas to shove the much-smaller playmaker in the face, this time with his right hand.

Albert Kelly arrives on crutches on Monday after an injury suffered during Saturday’s loss to the Warriors. Picture: Liam Kidston.

In February 2019, Haas was suspended for four matches and fined $20,000 by the Broncos after he failed to co-operate fully with the NRL integrity unit regarding an investigation into off-field incidents involving family members.

Last year, the NSW Origin enforcer was charged with offensive language and intimidating police at Tweed Heads. Haas was handed a two-year good behaviour bond over the incident, prompting a $50,000 fine from the NRL and a three-match suspension.

Following the Riki-Flegler punch up, Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy read the riot act to Brisbane players, saying he would not tolerate poor off-field behaviour.

“If we are fair dinkum about being a world-class sporting organisation, we can’t just talk the talk, we need to walk the walk and that’s everyone,” Donaghy said at the time.

“We have reported our matters to the NRL integrity unit and the players understand how disappointed I am with what’s happened in recent weeks.

“It (improving the individual) is something I am passionate about and it will be an enormous focus for us moving forward.”

Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy has vowed to improve the team culture. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Donaghy also added the Broncos would beef-up their support systems to ensure the Broncos are not the bad boys of the NRL.

“We will keep putting good people in place,” he said.

“We will be investing in support services available for players.

“We have committed to that and we think that is an area we can address.

“Adam Walsh (Broncos welfare chief) is very good at what he does and he has spoken to us about the need to increase resourcing and investment to support cultural change, so that we develop not just good footballers, but wonderful people.

“We have a young group and they will benefit from leaders like Adam Reynolds, Kurt Capewell and Ryan James to drive standards on and off the field. That will help us.

“Leadership in rugby league is a really underestimated part of a successful program. While guys like Reynolds, Capewell and James will be wonderful additions to the program, this is a chance for the younger players in our group to become emerging leaders as well.

“We will be looking at that part of our program to improve performances on and off the field.”

One of the code’s leading front-rowers, Haas became a Muslim in 2019 with the help of his mentor, former Roosters star and All Blacks legend Sonny Bill Williams. In accordance with Islamic faith, alcohol is forbidden.

Haas is Brisbane’s No.1 player, having won the prestigious Paul Morgan Medal as the Broncos best-and-fairest for a record three consecutive seasons.

The Broncos started the 2022 premiership with consecutive wins over Souths and the Bulldogs, but have failed to win since the Haas-Kelly drama, suffering dismal losses to the Cowboys (38-12) and Warriors (20-6) in the past fortnight.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters must ensure the drama does not destabilise his side as they prepare for daunting back-to-back clashes against the Roosters this Friday night and premiers Penrith on Friday week.

Originally published as Broncos brawl video: Broncos defend star Payne Haas as prop faces police investigation