NRL news: Broncos issue warning to Payne Haas transfer, contract suitors
The potential price tag for Brisbane powerhouse Payne Haas can be revealed, amid rumours that the Sydney Roosters are circling the game’s premier prop.
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Brisbane bosses have issued a hands-off edict to the Sydney Roosters amid fears superstar prop Payne Haas is considering one day quitting the Broncos to join the Bondi glamour club.
Broncos football-operations boss Ben Ikin has pledged to deliver a “world-class program” at Red Hill to ensure front-row sensation Haas does not walk out on Brisbane to chase premierships at the Roosters.
Haas is contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2024 and Brisbane’s board has approved a revised six-year offer in a bid to keep the three-time Paul Morgan Medallist at Red Hill until 2027.
But Haas has yet to ink the extension, with reports suggesting the NSW Origin enforcer is holding off signing until he sees improvement at the Broncos at a time when he has formed a close bond with Roosters legend Sonny Bill Williams.
When Haas converted to Islam, he sought the counsel of former NRL superstar Williams, who helped the Roosters to the 2013 premiership before returning to Bondi for a five-game cameo last year.
The Roosters have plundered Brisbane’s junior ranks in recent years, poaching halfback whizkid Sam Walker in 2019, before prising monster front-row brothers Xavier and De La Salle Va’a from the Broncos Academy in August.
But with the Roosters planning for life after 32-year-old prop warhorse Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who is off-contract at the end of 2023, the hulking Haas shapes as a natural engine-room target.
Speaking at a function during the week, NRL legend Cameron Smith said Haas would be the first player he would sign if he was putting together a roster for Brisbane’s new expansion rivals the Dolphins.
Ikin is mindful of the threat from all rival clubs, including the Roosters, and accepts Brisbane have a two-year headstart in their mission to keep Haas at the Broncos for life.
“It is incumbent upon us to make a really strong case that makes it difficult for Payne to leave the Broncos,” he said.
“The Roosters would be one of 16 other clubs, including the Dolphins, who would be keen to get Payne Haas to their organisation.
“He is here currently, we have him for another three seasons, and everybody that works at the Broncos wants to get this club back winning again.
“We want to build a world-class footy program and if we do both of those things, we would hope it becomes a very difficult decision for Payne to leave.
“We’ll focus on things that are in our control. After that, Payne will have to make a choice. But we want him here, we value him highly and we are working hard to build a footy program that Payne wants to be part of for a long time to come.”
In April, the Broncos made moves to reward Haas for his outstanding form, increasing his salary from $550,000 to $750,000 this year, an upgrade that made him Brisbane’s highest-paid forward.
It is understood Haas is Brisbane’s second highest-paid player behind key halfback recruit Adam Reynolds, who is on around $800,000 next season, but there is a view the brilliant 21-year-old prop is worth closer to $1 million.
The ultimate competitor, Haas is hungry to win a premiership and won’t settle for a team regularly languishing in the bottom four.
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Broncos coach Kevin Walters is confident Brisbane will hit back as a finals force next season and believes Haas will relish the support of new premiership teammates Reynolds and Kurt Capewell.
“We are hoping to have Payne here long-term for sure,” Walters said.
“That was Payne’s standout year last year which is great for the Broncos.
“If he can continue on that pathway, which we believe he will, and we provide the right people around him, Payne will keep the faith.
“We can’t have Payne doing it all on his own in the forwards. He needs support. We can’t have all the workload on Payne Haas and guys like Kurt Capewell and Tom Flegler will certainly help him in that regard.
“I don’t believe we have seen the best of Payne Haas. He is only 21 years of age and he is excited about the season ahead.”
RECRUIT TURNS HEAT ON BRONCOS’ FRONT ROW
Broncos recruit Ryan James wants to be Payne Haas’ front-row partner-in-crime as he chases finals football after a decade of playoffs misery at his former club the Titans.
The 30-year-old veteran has arrived at the Broncos with his NRL career at the crossroads, having played just 14 games in the past three seasons at the Titans, Canberra and Canterbury following the pain of two knee reconstructions.
The Broncos have thrown James a 12-month lifeline, but the one-time NSW Origin squad member insists he is not merely making up the numbers at Red Hill as he turns up the heat on Tom Flegler in the battle for front-row spots.
Queensland Origin prop Flegler is tipped to start alongside Paul Morgan Medallist Haas in Brisbane’s engine room, but James is hoping a bumper pre-season can catapult him into the starting pack for Brisbane’s 2022 premiership campaign.
“I do believe I can be a starting prop,” said James, who took part in an opposed session on Friday as the Broncos ramped-up their pre-season.
“I have come here to play as much footy as I can, whether that be as an impact player or start the game and do what I have to do.
“I have to get to know the footy side of things first. I have to get to know all the plays and once you make connections like that, you can start to play good football.
“The next six weeks is about getting to know everyone. I was a bit rusty (on Friday).
“The guys were calling plays and I didn’t know what was happening.
“There is a lot of competition for spots which is good for the team and good for ‘Kevvie’ (coach Kevin Walters) if some guys can jump straight in and play.
“The body is sweet, I’ve only played 14 games in three years so it should be OK.”
The former Titans skipper has already been blown away by the athletic ability of Haas, Brisbane’s front-row superstar.
“I’ve watched him play and I’ve tackled him, I will be glad not to tackle him again,” James said.
“Hopefully I will take the runs after him, he can scatter about four blokes and I will take the next run.
“He is a freak, he is one of the fittest and strongest blokes and just one of those phenomenons you don’t see too often.
“He will be one of the best front-rowers in the game.”
James has every incentive to help the Broncos to a finals fightback next season. Despite a lengthy NRL journey spanning 12 years, James has played just one playoffs game in his stellar 158-game career - Gold Coast’s 44-28 loss to the Broncos in 2016.
“My only ever finals game was against the Broncos at Suncorp,” he said.
“I watched the Broncos play finals as a kid growing up and I watched them have success and nearly get there (to a premiership) a few years ago (in 2015).
“You don’t go through your NRL career hoping you don’t play finals footy and that’s why I have come up here, to play finals. They have recruited really well, they have older heads coming in and the young talent they have coming through is impressive.
“I just want to play those big games.”
Haas makes big call on Broncos captaincy race
Payne Haas has ruled himself out of the Broncos captaincy race with Brisbane’s best forward calling for marquee recruit Adam Reynolds to be handed the leadership reins.
And the NSW Origin enforcer has also spoken out on rumours he was reluctant to undergo Covid vaccination, confirming he will be a certain starter for the 2022 premiership after following NRL protocols by having his first injection.
Having returned to pre-season last week following an ankle injury, Haas has won the Paul Morgan Medal as Brisbane’s best player for three consecutive years, adding weight to his claims to skipper the Broncos next year.
But the 118kg bookend, who will turn 22 next month, believes he is not yet ready for the Broncos captaincy, insisting Reynolds is the perfect option to succeed the retired Alex Glenn given his premiership and Origin credentials.
“I think ‘Reyno’ is the ideal one (to captain the Broncos next year),” Haas said.
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“It would be an honour but I feel we have some pretty special leaders with ‘Capes’ (Penrith recruit Kurt Capewell) and Reyno coming and we have young leaders like Patty (Carrigan) and Kotoni (Staggs).
“He was captain for Souths and look what he has done for them. He has won a premiership and knows what it takes, if I choose anyone, I would choose Reyno.
“Hopefully (Haas is considered for the captaincy) in the near future.
“I just want to be a leader for the boys on the field first and take care of my off-field stuff as well.”
Haas is referring to the turbulence of his 2021 campaign, when he missed the start of the premiership after being suspended by the NRL for three games and fined $50,000 following a drunken incident involving police in January.
The off-field scandal was a wake-up call for Haas. He responded on the field, amassing 3361 metres and 68 tackle busts during a season in which the birth of his first child in May, baby daughter Lalita, convinced Haas it was time to grow up.
“I am way more mature,” he said.
“Everyone knows some of the off-field stuff I have done and what I have been through, I’m not proud of it, but as long as I have learnt from it, that’s all I can do.
“It’s different being a dad. It’s been really good for me. I was going through some stuff a few years ago and having my daughter in my life has changed the way I view life, it’s been good.
“You have to be careful what you do off the field and when you have a little one, you have to do what’s best for them and your partner as well.
“I am happy to focus on my footy and keep improving.”
Haas’ ankle injury cut short his 2021 season, but he returned to pre-season last week as one of Brisbane’s fittest players, leading the way with Carrigan in shuttle runs.
There were fears Haas could rebel against the NRL’s code-wide Covid vaccination push after he recently endorsed some anti-vaxx messages on his social-media account, but the star prop will be on deck for the Broncos in 2022.
“I am scared of needles, but it’s all good now,” he said with a laugh.
“With that kind of stuff (Covid vaccination), you don’t want to make a big hassle for the club.
“I thought it was each to their own but we got it done and that’s all I can say.
“I think it’s the right move. If you look at other countries, Covid is pretty dangerous and with our borders opening to NSW, this is the best chance we’ve got to beat it by getting the vaccination.
“We have a 100 per cent vaccination rate now (at the Broncos) for our first dose so that’s pretty good from us.”
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