Payne Haas likely to miss opening rounds, Kevin Walters storms out of press conference

A fuming NRL are poised to penalise Broncos star Payne Haas following his foul-mouthed tirade at police.

Broncos prop Payne Haas and coach Kevin Walters. Picture: Liam Kidston

NSW Origin star Payne Haas will be suspended for the opening rounds of the NRL season and fined in excess of $20,000 for his foul-mouthed tirade at police.

A fuming NRL are poised to penalise the Broncos forward after he pleaded guilty to intimidating police on Thursday morning.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo told 2GB’s Ben Fordham this morning: “There’s no excuse for Payne’s conduct. It’s fair to say he’ll be facing sanctions.”

Abdo is waiting for the NRL Integrity Unit to finalise their report into Brisbane’s player-of-the-year for the past two seasons, who received a two-year good behaviour bond and is facing a suspension from the NRL following a foul-mouthed tirade at police in northern NSW on January 16.

Court transcripts revealed he threatened a female officer and dared police to taser him during the drunken incident in Tweed Heads.

The NRL are refusing to ignore the shocking verbal tirade and are planning to hand down a second significant penalty for Haas in the space of three seasons.

In 2019, Haas was fined $20,000 by the Broncos and stood down for the opening four rounds of the 2019 NRL competition for failing to cooperate with the NRL Integrity Unit regarding an incident involving his family.

Watch Live & On-Demand coverage of NRL pre-season trial matches on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial now & start streaming instantly >

Broncos prop Payne Haas and coach Kevin Walters. Picture: Liam Kidston.

On Thursday afternoon, Brisbane coach Kevin Walters sensationally walked out of a press conference after refusing to answer questions about the behaviour of star player.

Just over a month from the launch of the 2021 NRL season, Walters was in no mood to talk about Haas’ abuse of police officers after the NSW Origin prop pleaded guilty to intimidating police on Thursday morning.

The rookie NRL coach also bizarrely dead-batted a question about the appointment of Paul Green in Walters’ former role as Queensland State of Origin coach.

Ahead of his first season as Broncos coach, Walters was appearing in Brisbane at a promotion for next week’s All Stars Boxing event in Townsville.

He refused to talk about Haas and finally walked out of the press conference when quizzed on the future of Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough, who has been linked with a move to St George Illawarra.

Haas, Brisbane’s player-of-the-year for the past two seasons, received a two-year good behaviour bond and is facing a suspension from the NRL following a foul-mouthed tirade at police in northern NSW on January 16.

Court transcripts revealed he threatened a female officer and dared police to taser him during the drunken incident in Tweed Heads.

The NRL is expected to sanction Haas next week and despite the court matter being finalised, Walters flat out refused to discuss the topic and attempted to deflect questions from reporters.

Kevin Walters refused to answer questions about Paul Green’s appointment as Queensland Origin coach. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“I think we’ll stick to what we’re talking about here, I’ll leave that one alone,” he said when asked for his thoughts on Haas.

When told he couldn’t avoid the topic, Walters said: “I can (avoid it), I can just say no. I’ll talk about it in an appropriate environment. We’re not here to talk about any of those things. We’re here to talk about the boxing.”

A reporter then suggested Walters must be disappointed in Haas, prompting him to say: “The boxing is great, it’s going to be a fun night. I won’t be able to go to Townsville but it will be nice to watch it from home.”

Walters also avoided questions around Andrew McCullough. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Walters had enough and promptly ended the media call when asked about McCullough’s future.

“Hah, thanks for your time this afternoon,” he said before walking out of the frame.

While Walters had a public hissy-fit, his assistant Terry Matterson was prepared to address the Haas situation, saying his fate was now in the hands of the NRL.

Broncos hierarchy are privately pushing for a heavy fine with a possible match suspension coming from the NRL integrity unit.

“I’d say the next step now is for the NRL to look at this,” Matterson said.

“I haven’t known Payne for too long but what I have seen, he is a quality young man.

“There isn’t much to Payne, he just loves playing footy and he is very disappointed with what’s happened.

Assistant coach Terry Matterson, with his arm in a sling, didn’t shy away from his responsibilities, as he addressed the Payne Haas situation. Picture: Liam Kidston

“He has owned up to it and whatever happens, we will deal with that.

“We are hopeful of having him for the first game of the year.”

Green, who pipped Walters for the North Queensland coaching job in 2014, was on Thursday morning appointed Maroons coach, replacing Wayne Bennett.

Walters held the Queensland job from 2016-19 before relinquishing it last year to take on the Broncos gig, but he was in no mood to talk about Green’s appointment.

“I won’t make any comment about the new Origin coach,” he said.

“I’m happy for Greeny to get the job. I’m sure he’ll do a great job.”