NRL 2021: Brisbane Broncos vow to fix bad boy problem after Payne Haas drama
Brisbane chairman Karl Morris has revealed how the Broncos plan to fix their fractured culture, with the club furious after a year of off-field scandals.
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Broncos chairman Karl Morris has vowed to fix the club’s bad boy problem as the NRL’s wooden spooners prepare to kick-off their 2021 redemption campaign without Origin star Payne Haas.
Haas is facing at least a two-game ban and $20,000 fine from the NRL after pleading guilty to charges of intimidating police following a drunken foul-mouthed tirade in northern NSW.
Haas, 21, threatened a female officer and used offensive language during the incident after being asked to show identification to police in Tweed Heads on January 16.
Brisbane’s best player for the past two years apologised personally to the officers involved, but NRL chief Andrew Abdo slammed Haas’ conduct and promised to sanction the NSW Blues representative.
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The Haas saga continues a run of poor off-field behaviour from Broncos players which plagued last year’s horror season and has continued in 2021.
The Broncos had numerous player controversies last year including Tevita Pangai Jr’s brazen COVID bikie breaches, the infamous Everton Park Hotel saga and former prop Joe Ofahengaue’s driving offences.
Star centre Kotoni Staggs is under investigation from the NRL’s Integrity Unit after allegedly labelling a fan a “faggot” at a NSW country pub during the off-season.
Morris said the club’s furious board would force players to undergo education courses and find mentors to improve the Broncos’ fractured culture.
“Payne has to be educated that the police aren’t the enemy, the police have a job to do and we are very lucky as a society to have police officers,” he said.
“Payne will get some rehabilitation from us. I can honestly say Payne is a decent kid, but he is still young and it’s important as a club we provide assistance for our players.
“I want to look at a mentoring program where we have our players surrounded by good people and successful business people to help them on their journey.
“Last year, we had Tevita working with some business mentors after his off-field indiscretion. They didn’t want anything from him, but he took a lot from that experience.
“The reality is NRL players earn good money and they can be in a bit of a sporting bubble. Most of their working life will be post football, not during football, and we have to prepare them for that.
“I believe the Broncos do think of players holistically, but there’s a lot of pressure on young players. The whole of the NRL needs to be looking at this issue.
“It’s a different era, players aren’t working full-time jobs, so we need to be spending time on their holistic health. It’s not just about them being fit and available to play football, but also preparing Broncos players for life after football.
“Not everyone can be like Darren Lockyer or Cameron Smith. Most will have to go into the real world and find jobs and be good citizens.”
Club legend Lockyer is now on Brisbane’s board and last year provided training to the team’s leadership group.
A veteran of 355 games for the Broncos, Lockyer stopped short of saying Brisbane’s famed culture had cracked but admitted improvements had to be made.
“We are disappointed (with Haas) and the important part is Payne is disappointed and remorseful,” Lockyer said.
“We are dealing with young men and it’s (poor behaviour) always going to be there. From a club and board perspective, it’s about what support mechanisms we’re putting around these young men to deal with everything.
“It’s always on the agenda for any club. You’re dealing with young men, some of them still kids. When you combine that with alcohol it’s going to be there.
“At the Broncos we want to have high standards with everything we do on and off the field.
“Even though I’m at the club as a director, I’m not in and around the players, particularly with COVID last year.
“It’s hard to give a firm answer on what the standards are in the inner sanctum. Everything is accentuated when the performance on the field is poor. If you’re doing a lot of good things off the field well it will help on the field.
“Every individual needs to know they’re in the public eye and play for a prestigious club. That comes with responsibilities.”
Haas was suspended for four weeks in 2019 after failing to co-operate with an NRL investigation into incidents involving his family and violence.
The Broncos were pushing for Haas to receive only a hefty fine for his latest offences, but he will be rubbed out of the early season blockbusters against Parramatta and Gold Coast.
“The police do remarkable work for us and there is no excuse for Payne’s conduct,” Abdo told 2GB Radio.
“As a game we will be making no excuses for any players who abuse police.
“Our investigation will complete relatively quickly now. You can expect us to take the appropriate action.
“This is completely unacceptable behaviour by one of our players. It’s fair to say he’ll be facing sanctions given what’s now become public knowledge.
“Under no circumstances is it acceptable to abuse police, women or use language of this nature. It’s not the standards we expect of our community or our players who are role models.
“I am very disappointed in Payne’s behaviour.”
Broncos coach Kevin Walters refused to discuss the Haas incident after his court case was finalised on Thursday, claiming he would address the issue after sanctions are handed down.
Walters’ assistant and Broncos foundation player Terry Matterson said the squad knew the standards expected of them.
“There‘s no doubt about what’s expected of the group this year,” he said.
“There is an expectation on not only how you play here but how you behave off the field.
“With social media these days, it‘s very different to when I was playing.
“The Haas incident is another example of what not to do. We need to move forward quickly and we don’t want to see any more of that down the track.”
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