NRL 2023: Payne Haas on cusp of becoming highest-paid forward in Broncos history
The Broncos are ramping up plans to secure a heavyweight star to one of the biggest deals in their history as part of a $4 million retention drive. Details of the historic deal.
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Brisbane bosses have kicked off contract talks to make superstar prop Payne Haas the Broncos’ first $1 million forward.
News Corp can reveal Brisbane hierarchy have upped the ante to keep Haas at the Broncos until 2026 and beyond as the NSW Origin enforcer prepares for Saturday night‘s derby against the Titans.
The Broncos have embarked on a $4 million retention drive in recent months that has seen the club secure key playing trio Pat Carrigan, Jesse Arthars and Deine Mariner and coach Kevin Walters to upgraded deals.
Now Haas is the next big-name domino set to fall.
Contracted until the end of next year, Haas will become a free agent on November 1, but the Broncos are moving swiftly to avoid him going to the open market and attracting offers from rivals such as Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins.
The Broncos are confident Haas will ink a big-money extension and Brisbane board member Darren Lockyer confirmed the club is keen to secure the three-time Paul Morgan Medallist for the long haul.
“There is no doubt about that,” said Lockyer, also a powerful voice on Brisbane‘s recruitment-and-retention committee.
“He has already won (three) Paul Morgan Medals.
“He is the best prop in the game and he has done really well in keeping (at bay) his off-field distractions and just focusing on his footy.
“There is no denying how good he is for us and what he has done.
“He has always said he wants to win premierships.
“The Broncos playing well and winning on a weekly basis I think would add a bit of value to what Payne wants to do.”
Just 12 months ago, the engine-room, metre-eating prop dropped a bombshell on the Broncos by requesting an immediate release to test his value on the open market.
That request was flatly rejected by the Broncos, who have since smoked the peace-pipe with Haas’ management and quelled tensions sufficiently as to move forward on broking a long-term extension.
Brisbane’s sizzling start to 2023 — they lead the premiership after six rounds — has given Haas confidence the Broncos can satisfy his ultimate goal of winning a premiership.
Importantly, the Broncos are ready to reward Haas handsomely.
The Test and Origin bookend is on $848,000 this season, but the 20 per cent increase in the NRL salary cap will see Haas’ next Broncos contract soar beyond the $1 million mark.
He would become the first forward in Brisbane’s 35-year history to earn $1 million a season. Broncos forward legends such as Shane Webcke, Petero Civoniceva, Gorden Tallis, Brad Thorn and Tonie Carroll never came close to such a salary.
Haas’ numbers are incredible. He is averaging 188 metres and 27 tackles per game this season with a tackle efficiency of 98.8 per cent, underlining why he is widely regarded as the NRL’s No.1 prop.
Brisbane CEO Dave Donaghy lauded Haas’ importance and said the Broncos had no plans on losing the brilliant prop as they look to break a 17-year premiership drought.
“We want to keep all our players, sometimes it’s possible and sometimes it’s not because of market challenges and what not, but Payne Haas is a hell of a player,” Donaghy said.
“We have moved on from that (Haas’ shock release request).
“He has really developed and evolved as a leader. When you look at the likes of Pat Carrigan re-signing and cementing his roots here, we want to keep a nucleus of the group that can continue to deliver sustained results.
Carrigan urged Haas to follow his lead and ink a long-term deal in their quest for a Broncos title.
“The thought that me and ‘Payno’ could be playing in different jerseys is something I don’t want to happen,” he said.
“Payne typifies what this club is about.
“Every time he pulls on a Broncos jersey, you know he won’t let you down and he will have a 10 out of 10 game.
“As a club, if we can build around Payne, you know your standards will be safe in terms of football culture.
“He has grown up a lot as a person. He is constantly checking in on players, we are very close and I would love to play out my career with him here.
“We want to win a comp together.
“If he chooses to go somewhere else, I would understand, but I don‘t want him to go.”
Payne Haas: Life, death and how he became a Bronco
REYNOLDS’ BRONCOS COACHING ASPIRATIONS
Brisbane skipper Adam Reynolds has outlined his plan to enter the coaching ranks and help the Broncos become a premiership force by mentoring the club’s next generation of NRL young guns.
The Broncos have received a major boost with their most important player, Reynolds, getting the green light from medicos to play with a minor ankle sprain in Saturday night’s derby against the Titans.
And if Reynolds has his wish, he could be a Bronco for life well beyond his playing days, with the champion playmaker keen to parlay his premiership-winning football brain into a coaching role at Red Hill.
The 32-year-old is off-contract next year and hopes his body can hold up for another campaign at the Broncos in 2025.
But there is a view Reynolds has the tactical smarts to make a transition into coaching and the Broncos halfback is keen to extend his tenure at the club by potentially working as an assistant to Kevin Walters, mentoring rising stars Ezra Mam, Reece Walsh and Jock Madden.
“I would love to coach,” Reynolds told News Corp.
“The game has given me so much and I would love to give back in some way, shape or form.
“I love working with the younger boys coming through, guys like Jock Madden, Ezra Mam, Reece and Selwyn Cobbo, who were fantastic in pre-season.
“There’s a lot of these young boys coming through that I like to get around and upskill them, whether I am playing against them at training, or just giving them little tips on how to do things better.
“Obviously you get that through experience and if I can pass on my knowledge and make someone better while I’m here at the Broncos, that’s my job done.”
Reynolds could take a leaf from the book of Test and Origin playmaking legends Andrew Johns and Cooper Cronk, who now work as specialist halves coaches with NRL clubs.
Even after 257 top-grade games, Reynolds revealed he still analyses every facet of the game and it’s that attention to detail that would augur well if he opted to become an NRL head coach.
“I could do that (NRL head coaching) down the track, but I know I have to learn my trade first once I stop playing,” Reynolds said.
“It’s not as easy transitioning from player to head coaching straight away, but I would definitely love to jump into an assistant coach or development role and stay involved in the game in some way.
“I still study the game 24-7. I’m a footy nerd.
“I watch a combination of how teams attack and defend. I’m always looking for ways to improve and get better.
“Even if a rookie does something fantastic in a game, I try and implement it in my game.
“For me, I look at which guys I set up around me, how do I get guys one-on-one, how do I break down defensive systems?
“My way of thinking is a lot different to a lot of others.
“I have a passion for the game and would love to pass on that knowledge.”
For now, the Broncos are fortunate to still have Reynolds running their offence.
There were fears he may have suffered a serious leg injury after going down in last Saturday’s loss to the Raiders, but Reynolds insists he is in no danger of missing the Titans clash.
“I’m a little bit sore but I generally am a couple of days after a game,” he said. “I’ll be fine. I’m good to go for the weekend.”
The Broncos will also be boosted by the return of Kobe Hetherington, with the hard-hitting lock to step up for key prop Tom Flegler, who was concussed in the Canberra defeat.
Hetherington had surgery on a ruptured bicep in December and has impressed since his return to the Queensland Cup three weeks ago.
“Kobe has been patient,” Reynolds said.
“He brings a bit of that mongrel, he has a bit of fight in him, like a cattle dog, he just keeps going and he brings experience as well.
“We know we’re a much better team than what we dished up on the weekend and if we want to be serious in this competition, we need to be better this week against the Titans.”
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Originally published as NRL 2023: Payne Haas on cusp of becoming highest-paid forward in Broncos history
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