NRL 2023: Payne Haas breaks silence after signing $3.5m Broncos mega deal

Star Broncos prop Payne Haas has officially signed a new rich deal with the club, underlined by his desire to win many premierships with the young squad.

Payne Haas playing against the Cowboys. Picture: NRL Imagery

Payne Haas has revealed his burning ambition to deliver a premiership for Brisbane after the superstar prop rejected a massive $6 million poaching bid to remain at the Broncos.

Coach Kevin Walters shed tears at Friday’s announcement that represented one of Brisbane’s great retention coups, with Haas formally inking a three-year extension to stay loyal to the Broncos until the end of 2026.

But Haas could have easily made more. Underlining his commitment to the Broncos, Haas sacrificed a staggering $2.5 million to remain at Red Hill after his management fielded a monster three-year, $2 million-a-season offer from a cashed-up rival.

It was evidence money is not Haas’ sole motivator, with the 23-year-old declaring his desire to put premierships ahead of bigger bucks as the NRL’s No.1 prop looks to break Brisbane’s 17-year title drought.

“You want to win premierships,” Haas said.

“It would mean the world (to hold up that premiership).

“I feel like the best place to do that is here and I feel like we have a good shot at this and not just a one-off premiership.

“You look at the team we’ve got on paper and the players coming through like Ezra Mam and young fellas like Xavier Willison, Ben Te Kura and Blake Mozer.

“It is a special group. Then you’ve got Patty Carrigan leading that and ‘Capes’ (vice-captain Kurt Capewell) as well.

Payne Haas has inked a $3.5 million mega deal to remain at the Broncos. Picture: NRL Imagery

Walters has transformed the Broncos from wooden-spooners under Anthony Seibold to premiership contenders and Haas said he couldn’t walk out on Brisbane’s ‘Kev-olution’.

“I am staying because of Kevvie,” he said.

“A lot of the boys I have come up with since the under-20s.

“We are building something pretty special here and I want to be a part of it.

“I feel like we can do some damage in this competition for the next few years and I really want to be a part of it. Being close to family is important to me.

“We were in talks for a couple of months now. I really wanted to stay here. They knew that.

“We were just trying to find the best deal for each other. We got it done and I am really grateful and blessed.

The Broncos have lodged Haas’ new contract with the NRL salary-cap auditor, finally bringing to a close one of the most drama-charged deals in the club’s history.

Haas dropped two bombshells on the club, first requesting a shock release last year - rejected by Broncos bosses - before his management last month revealed Brisbane’s No.1 prop will head to free agency from November 1.

Payne Haas becomes the highest-paid player in Brisbane’s 35-year history. Picture: Getty Images

That revelation triggered a market frenzy with all 16 NRL rivals expressing preliminary interest, with the Bulldogs, Tigers, Dragons and Storm among the front-runners for his signature.

Ostensibly given a three-month headstart, the Broncos moved quickly to prevent a bidding war, with his management confirming Haas knocked back huge dollars to lead Brisbane’s quest for their first title since 2006.

It is understood an overseas rugby club tried to tempt Haas by offering to double his NRL salary.

“He had a three-year offer worth $2 million a season on the table,” said his manager Ahmad Merhi.

“I won’t name the club, but I remember saying to Payne this is the difference between one or two homes. It was a lot of money, but Payne wasn’t solely driven by that.

“There was a $2 million offer, 100 per cent. I won’t go into exactly where that offer came from, but Payne knocked it back immediately.

“I see Brisbane doing something special in the next three years and Payne feels the same way.

“He didn’t want to walk away now. Winning a premiership to him would be more than just chasing big money.”

Walters choked back tears as he spoke of Brisbane’s retention coup and Haas’ importance to building the Broncos’ most promising title dynasty since the golden years of the 1990s.

“It means a lot to the Broncos,” he said.

“Payne has been our most consistent player for the last four years.

“Payne is a guy we can build a club around.

“I really admire his loyalty and his professionalism, not only to himself and his family, but to the Broncos.

“He is one of the first blokes on the training field and last to leave.

“Come game day, race day, which is the most important day, he is always at the front.

“That is what you can build good clubs, good character and all those things around.

“We are really grateful as a club that we can keep him here for another few more years and even longer than that.”

Originally published as NRL 2023: Payne Haas breaks silence after signing $3.5m Broncos mega deal