Payne Haas Origin: Blues still keen on Bronco despite contract saga

With Broncos deserter Payne Haas set to test his value on the open market, Sydney Roosters supremo Nick Politis has weighed in on the situation.

NSW coach Brad Fittler has broken his silence on the Payne Haas contract saga.

The Blues coach has confirmed HASS contacted him on Thursday following the bombshell revelation that the star forward wants out of the Broncos.

Fittler has been vocal in the past about his reticence to pick players for NSW

who are dealing with contract issues at the time of State of Origin.

However, Fittler said in a short statement that the gun forward would remain in his plans when the NSW team is selected for game one on Sunday night.

“I have a strong relationship with Payne through our association at NSW State of Origin level,’’ Fittler said.

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NSW star Payne Haas is still in contention for selection Picture: Grant Trouville

“I’ve been in dialogue with Payne and I’m comfortable with where it stands at this point in time.

“Payne said he’s in a good mindset and his focus is the Titans this weekend, so I’m happy with that.

“It’s not ideal at all. I know from Payne and Brisbane’s point of view, I’m sure they want to clear all this up. They’re having a fantastic season and they’d hate for this to hijack it.’’

Blues advisor Greg Alexander described Haas request for a release as a shock while confirming the powerful ball-carrier had the mental resolve to focus on doing a job for the Blues despite the headlines that are certain to follow him into Origin camp.

NSW coach Brad Fittler (C) says the timing of the Haas contract spat is far from ideal. Picture: David Swift

“It seems like an extreme reaction, obviously it’s got to a stalemate where the club don’t want to move on the offer that they’ve put forward,’’ Alexander said.

“It’s not great timing for NSW either but knowing Payne, he can just get on and do the job.

“From what I’ve learned over the last couple of Origin series is that he can put things aside and just do the job.

“He’s a very professional young man.

“But its something that Freddy has stressed right from when he started coaching Origin in 2018 that players need to get their contract situations sorted out and leave them until after Origin.

“He didn’t want the distraction of contract headlines through the series.

“I know you can’t make a blanket rule and you have to treat each case on its merits, but its certainly not great timing.’’

‘I WOULD SIGN HIM’: ROOSTERS’ PAYNE HAAS CATCH

Roosters billionaire Nick Politis has ruled out making a big-money play for Payne Haas, insisting the club won’t risk losing star skipper James Tedesco in pursuit of the controversial Broncos prop.

Haas dropped a bombshell on the Broncos on Wednesday night, with his management formally requesting a release after Brisbane hierarchy refused to upgrade the prop’s deal as part of a $3.2 million pay dispute.

The Broncos are playing hardball with Haas, declaring he will not be given an early release from his three-year deal at a time when the NSW Origin star has fielded expressions of interest from five NRL rivals.

Haas has been consistently linked with the Roosters amid speculation the Bondi powerhouse is lining up the Broncos metre-eater to eventually replace enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who is off-contract at the end of 2023.

But amid the explosive contract machinations at Red Hill on Thursday, Politis addressed suggestions the Roosters are ready to launch a poaching raid if Haas’ tenure at the Broncos becomes untenable.

Roosters boss Nick Politis says the Roosters can’t afford Payne Haas. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Payne Haas is a great player but we have no cap space for next season,” Politis said.

“All 16 clubs would love to have Payne Haas but it’s a matter of whether you can afford him and whether he can fit into our roster.

“I wouldn’t insult Payne and say we don’t want him because he is one of the best props in the game, so of course I would sign him if we could afford him, but the reality is we have a salary cap in place.

“We’ve got a great captain here in ‘Teddy’ (Tedesco) and we have some good props coming through in Lindsay Collins, (Daniel) Suluka-Fifita and Tuku (Hau-Tapuha).”

There is a view Haas has baulked at signing with the Broncos because of his relationship with his mentor Sonny Bill Williams, the Roosters legend who helped with the Brisbane prop’s conversion to Islam in 2019.

Payne Haas has asked for on immediate release from the club. Picture: NRL

Politis blasted suggestions he is using Sonny Bill as a high-profile tool to lure Haas to Bondi.

“There’s been all this nonsense about us signing Payne because of his relationship with Sonny when he became a Muslim,” Politis said.

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

“Just because Haas is mates with Sonny Bill Williams, it doesn’t mean he is coming to the Roosters.”

It is understood the Bulldogs are among the clubs interested in Haas. Crisis-torn Canterbury have cash to spend as part of post-Trent Barrett clean-out amid speculation Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould met with the Haas camp during Magic Round in Brisbane a fortnight ago.

Haas’ management is seeking $1.2 million for the Australian prop in 2025. Whether any club is prepared to outlay such a gargantuan figure for a front-rower is the $1.2 million question.