NRL 2022: Payne Haas pledges loyalty to Broncos and withdraws from Rugby World Cup

After claiming his fourth Paul Morgan Medal, Payne Haas has ended months of speculation over his NRL future — and that’s not the only decision he’s made.

Payne Haas has made two big calls on his future, pledging his loyalty to the Broncos and withdrawing from the World Cup to be at peak fitness for Brisbane’s premiership tilt next season.

In the wake of his fourth successive Paul Morgan Medal win at Brisbane’s Awards ball on Tuesday night, Haas ended six months of speculation over his future, insisting he has no plans to walk out on the Broncos over his contract dispute.

And to prove his commitment to the Broncos, Haas has personally pulled out of Australia’s World Cup campaign – starting next month in England – to ensure he is fully fit in body and mind for Brisbane’s 2023 season.

Haas dropped a bombshell on the Broncos in May when his management asked for an immediate release from his $3 million deal, which expires in 2024, a request that was flatly rejected by Brisbane bosses.

Payne Haas has committed to the Broncos. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

The parties agreed to revisit the contract stand-off at season’s end – fuelling fears Brisbane’s No. 1 player could quit the Broncos to chase a monster payday at a Sydney club.

But after clinching yet another Paul Morgan Medal, Haas insists he will not be asking for a fresh release and confirmed he will be in Broncos colours in 2023.

“I have never said I wanted out of the club,” Haas said.

“I love the Broncos, I love the people here, I have made lifelong mates.

“I am still contracted here until 2024 so I am still here and I want to do well at the Broncos.

“I have been here through the rough times and I can see the good times coming.”

Haas will become Brisbane’s highest-paid player next season on $848,000.

His management were seeking in excess of $1 million a season, and Haas’ latest player-of-the-year win – equalling Allan Langer with four consecutive victories – has given his agents more bargaining power at the negotiating table.

But when asked if he believes he will be at Brisbane next season, Haas was emphatic.

“I do,” he said.

“I am contracted here. Brisbane is good for me, I have my family here, my mum and dad are down the road.

“I am pretty sure we can sort things out.

“They (his management) are starting talks again with the Broncos and they are pretty good, so I will see what happens and fingers crossed they can work it out.”

There was speculation Haas was considering pledging his allegiance to Samoa for the upcoming World Cup.

The NSW Origin enforcer insists he was always committed to Australia, but has withdrawn for injury and family reasons, the latter relating to his mother, Joan, being jailed a fortnight ago for assaulting casino security guards.

Haas, who battled two shoulder injuries during the NRL season, said he wanted to remain in Brisbane to not only heal his battered body, but support his family amid his mother’s incarceration.

“It was pretty hard to pull out of the World Cup,” Haas said.

“I spoke to Mal (Meninga, Kangaroos coach) and I told him I wanted to represent Australia. I was born here and I am an Aussie first.

“I was tossing and turning over it for a couple of weeks.

“I just thought this time now, especially with my body, it didn’t pull up well this year and with all the stuff going on with my family (the jailing of his mum), I felt like I needed to be at home.

“As the older sibling, I feel I need to be there for my little brothers and give them a bit of guidance.

“I felt that was more important than going over to England to play in the World Cup.

“I felt like I had to be here for my family and look after myself.”

Haas has been heavily linked with the Roosters but the front-row sensation says he is desperate to help break Brisbane’s 16-year premiership drought.

“I would swap all my Paul Morgan Medals to help Brisbane win a premiership,” he said.

“I watched one finals game the other day and I switched it off straight away, I just couldn’t watch it.

“It sucks (missing the finals) because I know how good we are and what team we can be.

“All you want to do in your career is win a premiership and that’s what I want to do at the Broncos.”