Gould’s Dogs’ edge in $1m Haas race as exiled half joins in shock mid-season switch

The Bulldogs are reportedly set to sign a Titans young gun immediately as club powerbrokers plot a bid to acquire a Broncos star.

NRL 2023 RD04 Dolphins v Brisbane Broncos - Payne Haas. Photo: Scott Davis/NRL Imagery

The Bulldogs are reportedly set to sign a Titans young gun immediately as club powerbrokers plot a bid to acquire the services of Broncos powerhouse Payne Haas.

Haas, 23, is free to negotiate with rivals for the 2025 season from November 1 this year and the Bulldogs will table a bumper contract according to The Daily Telegraph.

The representative prop won’t be short of suitors, with Rugby Australia making it clear Haas is at the top of their recruitment list.

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Broncos powerbrokers will also reportedly table a multi-million dollar contract to make the young gun the club’s highest-ever paid player.

However, the Bulldogs believe they could have an edge in the form of Haas’ close friend — former club great Sonny Bill Williams.

Haas previously said Williams was a “real good brother of mine” and the pair bonded over their religious connection with Islam.

The Bulldogs want Payne Haas. Photo: Scott Davis/NRL Imagery

Canterbury reportedly have cap space to burn for 2024 and 2025, having already secured the signature of Panthers gun Stephen Crichton for next season.

The Bulldogs are also reportedly monitoring the situation of David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui but have acquired the services of their club teammate.

Halfback Toby Sexton will reportedly join the Bulldogs immediately after driving 10 hours to Sydney on Monday to meet with club officials according to News Corp.

The 22-year-old has been recruited amid a halves crisis at the Belmore-based club, with superstar Matt Burton filling the No.7 jersey for two months.

Rookie coach Cameron Ciraldo has used Kyle Flanagan, Karl Oloapu, Josh Reynolds and Khaled Rajab to partner Burton so far in 2023 but will now reportedly look to Sexton to fill the void.

Pending NRL clearance, Sexton could be available for the Bulldogs as soon as Round 19 when the Bulldogs take on the Rabbitohs.

Sexton was previously viewed as the Titans’ next halfback and 12 months ago Gold Coast powerbrokers allowed Jamal Fogarty to leave the club to hand the reins to the young gun.

The halfback was dropped by axed coach Justin Holbrook at the back-end of the 2022 season, having featured only once for the Titans in 2023.

Originally published as Gould’s Dogs’ edge in $1m Haas race as exiled half joins in shock mid-season switch