Where to next for NRL deserters Zac Lomax and Ryan Papenhuyzen after R360 delay

With the R360 threat over for now following the delay of the controversial competition, where does that leave the NRL stars that were lured away from the league?

Broncos boss Dave Donaghy says Brisbane face a greater threat from new NRL franchises Perth and Papua New Guinea to retain Payne Haas following the delay of the controversial R360 league.

Donaghy’s stance came as Zac Lomax’s manager dismissed suggestions the NSW Origin star is in limbo after the Eels star’s decision to walk away from his four-year Parramatta deal.

Brisbane’s hopes of keeping Haas received a huge boost on Friday night when R360 bosses confirmed the unsanctioned competition would not go ahead in 2026, pushing back their launch date to 2028.

The R360 threat is over for now, but Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy has warned that the danger of losing Payne Haas is far from over. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen / Courier Mail

R360 chiefs have been in talks with Haas’ management and were confident of securing the superstar Broncos prop, who is off-contract at the end of next season.

There were fears Haas would quit the Broncos next year to take up a tax-free, $3 million deal with R360 from October 1, 2026, but the rebel league’s setback has put Brisbane in the box seat.

The Broncos have tabled a multi-year deal worth north of $3.5 million to keep Haas until at least 2029, but Donaghy insists the premiers aren’t being complacent in the wake of R360’s blow.

“I don’t think it’s a surprise it’s not going to happen,” Donaghy said of the R360 development on Saturday.

There were fears Haas would take up a big money deal with R360, but the delay of the competition has put the Broncos back in the box seat to keep him. Picture: NewsWire

“But you can’t rule out a different threat down the track, so as a game we need to make sure we remain in as strong a position as possible.

“We will let Payne enjoy his break and then pick that up after he’s been able to enjoy some time with his family.

“It’s been a big year for him and he deserves that time to sit back and for them all to enjoy what he’s achieved.

“Payne knows he’s loved at the club, so we will work through that in due course.”

Haas could easily fetch $1.5 million from the Bears for 2027, while he could also earn tax-free dollars with PNG in 2028, and Donaghy is wary of the more localised domestic threat to securing the prop’s signature.

“If we’re fair dinkum, Perth and PNG will be a greater threat (to the Broncos) than this R360 stuff,” Donaghy said.

“The challenge is the salary cap.

“At the end of the day, you have a pie that has to be cut up across a really talented group of young men and women and over time we will have to say hard goodbyes to people.

“That is always really difficult, but we will step through that when the challenge arises.

“If we keep investing in areas that can make us a destination club where players want to come, then hopefully players don’t want to leave.”

The Broncos believe the Perth Bears could be a bigger threat than R360. Picture: Getty Images

While Haas is tipped to stay at the Broncos, the R360 delay has repercussions for Lomax, who was rumoured to be eyeing a code switch after brokering a release from the Eels a fortnight ago.

It is understood the 26-year-old has fielded interest from Japanese and French rugby clubs, with Lomax capable of earning in excess of $1 million a season by playing the 15-a-side code overseas.

Lomax’s manager Clinton Schifcofske remains confident the NSW Origin flyer will be active next year amid concerns R360’s short-term collapse will leave Lomax out in the cold.

“Zac has options,” he told Code Sports on Saturday.

“Zac has always been interested in other things so he can pick and choose now.

“There’s no shortage of interest … we’ll make a final decision shortly.”

Where to now for Zac Lomax? Picture: NRL Photos

Schifcofske has been heavily linked with the R360 revolution but the leading NRL agent said there were never any guarantees the proposed competition would get off the ground.

“I always said I would believe it when I saw it,” he said.

“It was a pipedream.

“I had some discussions with R360 a while ago but when the ban came in (the NRL’s 10-year suspension for R360 defectors) I made it clear to my players that they had to seek another agent to deal with R360.”

Schifcofske also manages former Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen, who quit Melbourne after last month’s grand final loss to Brisbane, but says the champion fullback is not worried by the R360 development.

“This doesn’t affect ‘Paps’ at all,” he said.

“He wanted time away from the game completely and that’s what he is doing.

“He is focused on Paps the person, not the player.”

Originally published as Where to next for NRL deserters Zac Lomax and Ryan Papenhuyzen after R360 delay