NRL 2023: Payne Haas urges underpaid stars Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam to re-sign with Broncos

Payne Haas has issued a call to arms to the two best-valued at the Broncos after inking the richest deal in the club’s history.

Payne Haas playing against the Cowboys. Picture: NRL Imagery

Broncos enforcer Payne Haas has appealed for Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam to follow his lead and sign extended deals to spearhead a Broncos premiership dynasty.

Much to the relief of Broncos fans and officials, Haas, the game’s best prop, has signed a $3.5 million mega-deal to stay with the club until the end of the 2026 season.

The challenge for the club is to keep the delicate fabric of a premiership challenge in place despite the fact Adam Reynolds will play on for a year beyond his current contract to the end of 2025, putting further pressure on an already bulging cap.

“I would love to see it,’’ Haas said of the prospect of Mam and Walsh resigning.

“They will be a big part of our team’s success, to see Walshy and Ezra, they are special players so if we can lock them down we will be in good hands.’’

Reynolds is on around $800,000 a season but it is understood he will not ask for “silly’’ money.

Payne Haas has urged Reece Walsh to stay at Red Hill. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

He was initially expected to retire at the end of his three year deal at the end of next year so his decision to continue further stretches the cap as the Broncos search to end their 17 year premiership drought.

Mam has been reported to be on a salary of just $240,000 and Walsh only $500,000 on a deal locked in until 2025 so the Broncos have some serious cash-splashing ahead if the duo are to be retained.

Due to a chronic shortage of halves Mam, 20, has already been earmarked as a major target for clubs including the Dragons who see him as a star of the future.

Mam’s wage could treble in his next contract if he takes the best deal on offer which is likely to be more than the Broncos can pay for him.

The Broncos will gain some salary cap relief when Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler leave for the Dolphins at the end of the season but upgrades to key players will swallow up a significant amount of the savings.

Ezra Mam. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty

Asked whether he felt the Broncos had genuine premiership potential, Haas said: “Of course. You look at the team we’ve got on paper and the players coming through like Ezra Mam and young fellas like Xavier Willison, Ben Te Kura and Blake Mozer. It is a special group. Then you’ve got Patty Carrigan leading that and Capes (Kurt Capewell) as well.’’

Broncos coach Kevin Walters felt the big spend on Haas would reap bumper rewards.

“Financially, it’s a big investment, not only in Payne but in the team. No doubt it’s the biggest signing we have committed to and we are very comfortable with what’s happened.

“We understand where Payne is at. He is only 23 so you can imagine him in 12 months time where his football will take this club. Great players like Payne help everyone and make them better than what they are, that’s the beauty of the investment in Payne.

“I will share a story that shows a side of Payne’s character. He elected to stay home and get surgery on his shoulder rather than go and play for Australia and win the World Cup with them.

“He committed to being ready to start the season at the Broncos. On the back of his commitment, other players had a good look at themselves about when their surgery should be and how to do things. Simple things like that show how committed he is to the success of the club.’’

MONSTER MONEY HAAS REJECTED

Payne Haas has revealed his burning ambition to deliver a premiership for Brisbane after the superstar prop rejected a massive $6 million poaching bid to remain at the Broncos.

Coach Kevin Walters shed tears at Friday’s announcement that represented one of Brisbane’s great retention coups, with Haas formally inking a three-year extension to stay loyal to the Broncos until the end of 2026.

But Haas could have easily made more. Underlining his commitment to the Broncos, Haas sacrificed a staggering $2.5 million to remain at Red Hill after his management fielded a monster three-year, $2 million-a-season offer from a cashed-up rival.

It was evidence money is not Haas’ sole motivator, with the 23-year-old declaring his desire to put premierships ahead of bigger bucks as the NRL’s No.1 prop looks to break Brisbane’s 17-year title drought.

“You want to win premierships,” Haas said.

“It would mean the world (to hold up that premiership).

“I feel like the best place to do that is here and I feel like we have a good shot at this and not just a one-off premiership.

“You look at the team we’ve got on paper and the players coming through like Ezra Mam and young fellas like Xavier Willison, Ben Te Kura and Blake Mozer.

“It is a special group. Then you’ve got Patty Carrigan leading that and ‘Capes’ (vice-captain Kurt Capewell) as well.

Payne Haas has inked a $3.5 million mega deal to remain at the Broncos. Picture: NRL Imagery

Walters has transformed the Broncos from wooden-spooners under Anthony Seibold to premiership contenders and Haas said he couldn’t walk out on Brisbane’s ‘Kev-olution’.

“I am staying because of Kevvie,” he said.

“A lot of the boys I have come up with since the under-20s.

“We are building something pretty special here and I want to be a part of it.

“I feel like we can do some damage in this competition for the next few years and I really want to be a part of it. Being close to family is important to me.

“We were in talks for a couple of months now. I really wanted to stay here. They knew that.

“We were just trying to find the best deal for each other. We got it done and I am really grateful and blessed.

The Broncos have lodged Haas’ new contract with the NRL salary-cap auditor, finally bringing to a close one of the most drama-charged deals in the club’s history.

Haas dropped two bombshells on the club, first requesting a shock release last year - rejected by Broncos bosses - before his management last month revealed Brisbane’s No.1 prop will head to free agency from November 1.

Payne Haas becomes the highest-paid player in Brisbane’s 35-year history. Picture: Getty Images

That revelation triggered a market frenzy with all 16 NRL rivals expressing preliminary interest, with the Bulldogs, Tigers, Dragons and Storm among the front-runners for his signature.

Ostensibly given a three-month headstart, the Broncos moved quickly to prevent a bidding war, with his management confirming Haas knocked back huge dollars to lead Brisbane’s quest for their first title since 2006.

It is understood an overseas rugby club tried to tempt Haas by offering to double his NRL salary.

“He had a three-year offer worth $2 million a season on the table,” said his manager Ahmad Merhi.

“I won’t name the club, but I remember saying to Payne this is the difference between one or two homes. It was a lot of money, but Payne wasn’t solely driven by that.

“There was a $2 million offer, 100 per cent. I won’t go into exactly where that offer came from, but Payne knocked it back immediately.

“I see Brisbane doing something special in the next three years and Payne feels the same way.

“He didn’t want to walk away now. Winning a premiership to him would be more than just chasing big money.”

Walters choked back tears as he spoke of Brisbane’s retention coup and Haas’ importance to building the Broncos’ most promising title dynasty since the golden years of the 1990s.

“It means a lot to the Broncos,” he said.

“Payne has been our most consistent player for the last four years.

“Payne is a guy we can build a club around.

“I really admire his loyalty and his professionalism, not only to himself and his family, but to the Broncos.

“He is one of the first blokes on the training field and last to leave.

“Come game day, race day, which is the most important day, he is always at the front.

“That is what you can build good clubs, good character and all those things around.

“We are really grateful as a club that we can keep him here for another few more years and even longer than that.”

Originally published as NRL 2023: Payne Haas urges underpaid stars Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam to re-sign with Broncos