NRL 2022: Roosters chairman Nick Politis sets record straight on Payne Haas rumours

There has been plenty of speculation Payne Haas could be in the Roosters’ sights. Now Nick Politis breaks a six-month silence to set the record straight.

Payne Haas has been linked to the Roosters. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Roosters supremo Nick Politis has declared he will not sign Payne Haas and has blasted speculation the club is using the influence of Sonny Bill Williams in a bid to lure the Broncos superstar prop to Bondi.

On the eve of the Roosters’ clash against the Warriors on Sunday, Politis has broken a six-month silence on the Haas affair to set the record straight amid rumours the Chooks are plotting a big-money raid on the Broncos.

Haas faced the Roosters last Friday week at Suncorp Stadium and was subsequently sidelined for Brisbane’s away clash against Penrith after being hit with a one-game suspension by the NRL for his role in the ‘Shoe-gate’ scuffle with teammate Albert Kelly.

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Widely regarded as the NRL’s No.1 prop, Haas has been consistently linked with the Roosters as a possible successor to veteran front-row enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who is off-contract at the end of next season.

While he has enormous respect for Haas’ ability, Politis insists he is not targeting the 22-year-old in a major boost to the Broncos’ hopes of retaining the three-time Paul Morgan Medallist.

Broncos enforcer Payne Haas has been linked with the Roosters. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“We won’t be signing Payne Haas,” said Politis in his first interview on the Roosters’ prospects of poaching Brisbane’s No.1 player.

“We are not interested — it’s as simple as that.

“Look, Payne is a great player, that’s not the issue, but if he wants $1 million, we don’t have $1 million in the salary cap to pay him that much.

“People keep speculating it and writing we want Payne Haas, but just because he is mates with Sonny Bill Williams, it doesn’t mean he is coming to the Roosters.”

Last August, the Broncos board gave approval for a six-year, $5.85 million upgrade to be tabled to Haas. For the past eight months, the NSW Origin enforcer has baulked at signing the new deal.

Haas has cited two reasons for his reluctance to sign: an ongoing legal dispute with his former management team, and the fact Brisbane’s front-row spearhead is already contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2024.

In Haas’ eyes, there is no rush to finalise his long-term future. But there is also a view he is buying time to closely monitor the progress of the Broncos, who won the wooden spoon two years ago and are fighting to climb out of the NRL cellar after finishing 14th last season.

Roosters supremo Nick Politis said his club is not interested in signing Payne Haas. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Haas last month told News Corp he is hungry to be consistently successful and win premierships. That is a genuine option at the Roosters, the only club since the birth of the NRL in 1998 to win back-to-back titles in 2018-19.

Then there’s the SBW factor. Haas admires Sonny Bill’s sporting genius and in 2019, the Roosters and All Blacks legend, a devout Muslim, helped the then Broncos rookie with his conversion to Islam. It is understood Haas and Williams still stay in touch.

But Politis scoffed at suggestions Sonny Bill is being enlisted to brainwash Haas, saying the NRL powerhouse is building from within via their newly-minted Roosters Academy.

“I am very close with Sonny Bill but we don’t use him to sign players,” Politis said.

“Sonny is apparently mates with Payne Haas but that has nothing to do with me.

“Payne is one of the best props in the game, but we have never had him on our radar. He is contracted to the Broncos for another three years anyway.

“The reality is we can’t fit Haas into our team on $1 million a season. He doesn’t fit in with our salary cap strategy moving forward. We have our own forwards coming through.

Payne Haas has baulkede at signing a new long-term deal at the Broncos. Picture: NRL Photos

“We’ve got Lindsay Collins and we have a couple of other good young props coming through in (Daniel) Suluka-Fifita and Tuku (Hau-Tapuha).

“We also signed two young props from the Broncos last year, the Va’a brothers (Xavier and De La Salle). Xavier is in our Roosters Academy and he is a real talent.

“There’s no point trying to develop those guys in our Academy, then going to the market and buying over the top of them by chasing Payne Haas.”

Former Broncos captain Corey Parker worked with Haas as a forwards assistant to ex-Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold in 2019-20.

He believes Haas, who has already played Origin and Test football, has reached a stage of his career where money is not the sole motivation. Haas has yet to win a premiership ring. It is unlikely he would tolerate another three years of mediocrity at Red Hill.

“I worked with Payne at the Broncos and the things he was able to do for a big guy was just scary,” Parker said. “His engine is remarkable. With the right coaching and guidance, he can do anything in the game.

Payne Haas looks up to former NRL and All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“There’s not much more the Broncos can do really. They have offered him a six-year deal that is reflective of where he is at. Payne could get 15 offers from other clubs, so then it’s not all about money anymore, it’s about opportunity and achievement.

“There is no way Haas is underpaid, so if he leaves Brisbane, it won’t be because of the money.

“When you first start in the game, your currency as a kid turns to how much you can get paid. Then you have ambitions to play rep footy, Origin, Australia.

“The ultimate currency for a player is to win a premiership. So if Payne is getting well paid at the Broncos, which he is, then his burning ambition is simply one thing - can I win a premiership at this club?

“That’s the reality for the Broncos. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he went to a club where he feels he is a genuine chance to win a premiership.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Roosters chairman Nick Politis sets record straight on Payne Haas rumours