Broncos gun Payne Haas opens up about his pre-season from hell

EXCLUSIVE: Brisbane Broncos young gun Payne Haas has opened up about his harrowing start to the pre-season in a candid interview with Peter Badel. Read the rookie’s full story here.

Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas has opened up about his family ordeal and admits his “stupid” acts have let down the NRL as the teenager recovers from the most harrowing period of his life.

In an exclusive interview with The Courier-Mail, Haas has broken his silence on a series of off-field incidents that also involved his mother and put his six-year, $3.4 million Broncos deal in jeopardy.

Brisbane Broncos young star Payne Haas admits he has made mistakes. Picture: Adam Head

“I shouldn’t be getting in trouble, I know I have made mistakes,” Haas said.

“The mistakes I have made are just dumb and stupid.”

Rated rugby league’s next forward superstar, the 19-year-old Haas was suspended for four games and fined $20,000 by the Broncos in February for not fully complying with an investigation by the NRL’s integrity unit.

The NRL investigation focused on two off-field incidents - a physical dispute at a family property involving Haas’ brother and a separate spectator brawl, at which Haas was present, at a junior league game last September.

Haas listens to coach Anthony Seibold at training during the week. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

Queensland police quizzed Haas over the junior-league melee and cleared him of any wrongdoing, but his mother Joan was charged with two counts of assault.

Last Monday, Haas was in fresh trouble, fined $500 by an Ipswich magistrate and banned from driving for six months after pleading guilty to unlicensed driving and using a mobile phone while behind the wheel.

The Broncos then imposed another $10,000 fine – 20 times greater than the court’s penalty - meaning Haas has been fined a total of $30,000 by the club in the past eight weeks.

Haas, who has played just four NRL games, has had a turbulent start but insists he is not a problem child and will take full responsibility for repairing his battered image.

“If I could go back in time, I would change all the wrong things I’ve done, but that’s life. I have to learn from it and be better for it,” Haas said.

“I know I’m not a bad person and I don’t want to be portrayed that way.

“If some people don’t like me because of what’s been said and written, well I can’t control that, but what I can control is the decisions I make and I will make the right ones moving forward.

“It’s not good enough to say I’m only young. I don’t want to use that as an excuse. I’m a grown man, I’m an adult, and the way to make things better now is to take some ownership of myself as a person and be a better athlete for the Broncos.”

Haas after he found out he was going to make his Broncos debut last season. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Haas cannot comment on the specifics of the junior league brawl for legal reasons, but insists his mother and extended family are not violent. Haas’ management said yesterday Joan, a mother of 10, does not want to derail her son’s NRL career.

“The comments about my family and what’s happened has been hurtful,” he said.

“We are passionate about our football and our family which sometimes comes across the wrong way.

“They say you can’t choose your family ... but I love the family I’ve got.

“People who say things about my mum or my family don’t see the people I live with every day. I guess no-one would like to see people saying negative things about their mother.

“My mum is the most important person in my life. I know Mum and my dad raised us with good values and despite what has happened (Joan being charged), I will support her to the end.

Payne Haas (second from left) as a young Maroons hopeful.

“I really hope people do try and see the good side of me and my family, but at the end of the day we have love for each other and that’s what matters most to me.”

At 194cm and 118kg, Haas is a monstrous figure. Good judges in rugby league believe Haas has the talent and size to play for New South Wales and Australia, and be one of the best forwards in the Broncos’ history.

But Haas accepts one more serious mistake could ruin his career. He has seen close friends go to jail. One of 10 siblings, he is determined to be a positive role model for his family and the NRL.

“I don’t want to go jail and that motivates me to succeed in rugby league,” he said.

“I want to show my younger brothers a better way to live. I don’t want to go down the wrong path.

“You don’t want to see friends or family in bad situations so for me I want to stay clear of negative environments.

“If I want to stay in the NRL and be at a club like the Broncos, I need to live by a set of standards and that’s what I plan to do.”