Payne Haas drops bombshell on Brisbane Broncos

Broncos powerhouse Payne Haas has told his club some massive news that has sent shockwaves around the NRL.

NRL 2023 RD06 Brisbane Broncos v Canberra Raiders - Payne Haas. Photo: Scott Davis/NRL Imagery.

Payne Haas has told the Broncos he is putting himself on the open market.

The Brisbane powerhouse on Thursday showed he is not prepared to sign a contract extension with the club — making him one of the most prized signatures in the frenzied recruitment market.

Haas’ manager Ahmad Merhi has confirmed to The Daily Telegraph the 23-year-old wants to consider offers from rival clubs.

“We’re pretty clear that we are going to wait until November 1,” Merhi said.

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“We’re four months away from November 1 and it would ... be a smart decision to wait until November 1 seeing Payne is the player he is and there is a possibility he may get the Dally M award this year.

“We have discussed it and we are going to wait until November 1. His (preference) is to stay in Brisbane. He also understands that there are other opportunities so he wants to look at those opportunities when they present themselves and then go from there – weigh up the pros and cons and go from there.”

According to The Daily Telegraph, Haas will earn around $850,000 with the Broncos next season, but is expected to command over $1 million-per-season in his next contract.

Payne Haas is going to get paid. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

He has repeatedly been linked to a departure from Brisbane despite remaining under contract with the Broncos through to the end of the 2024 season.

It is a major blow to the Broncos, who had reportedly been working hard to lock the prop forward away to a new deal earlier this year.

According to reports, the Broncos were ready to make Haas the highest paid forward in the history of the club with an extension worth more than $1 million-per-season.

Haas will become available on the open market from November 1 — at what point teams can officially sign players that will be free agents at the end of the following season.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the Bulldogs are likely to be leading the race for Haas’ signature.

However, Eddie Jones and the Wallabies have also made no attempt to hide their interest in the NSW State of Origin workhorse.

Payne Haas. Photo: Scott Davis/NRL Imagery

Kevin Walters in April said he is not worried about losing Haas to the 15-a-side game, but reports at the time suggested he should be.

Fox Sports journalist James Hooper reported at the time Rugby Australia can “blow the Broncos away” with a whopping offer of around $1.6 million per-year for three years.

The $4.8 million offer would reportedly see Haas jump ship as early as the conclusion of the 2024 NRL season to take up an offer with rugby that would take him through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, to be played on Australian soil.

Haas did ask for a release from his deal in 2022, a request that was denied. The circus continues.