Brisbane prop Payne Haas is likely to miss the start of season after abusing police

Payne Haas is likely to be missing when the season starts after abusing police on the Gold Coast last month

ayne Haas leaves Tweed Heads Court flanked by his legal team Picture: Scott Powick

NSW prop Payne Haas has apologised to police for a foul-mouthed rant on the Gold Coast earlier this year but saying sorry is unlikely to mean he is available for the Brisbane Broncos when the season begins in earnest next month.

Haas received a two-year good behaviour bond after ripping into police in northern NSW on January 16 but the matter is far from over. The NRL integrity unit is reviewing the exchange and there is every chance Haas will be suspended when the Broncos open their season against Parramatta.

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It seems hard to believe he can escape a ban of some sort given the extraordinary nature of the comments that were revealed in court documents.

According to police, Haas told officers: “Don’t come near me bro, I’ll f **king jab ya, on my mother’s life I will. Get the f**k out of here bro, get the f**k out of my face or I’ll take all of you on myself you f**kwits.”

He then turned on a female officer and said: “Why you looking at me like that? Cause you’re a woman? Cause you’re a woman and you think that I won’t touch ya?”

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters bristled when he was asked about Haas on Thursday. Appearing at an event to promote the All Stars Boxing night in Townsville next week, Walters walked out of a press conference after becoming frustrated with the line of questioning, which also encompassed the future of hooker Andrew McCullough.

His mood is unlikely to improve when the Broncos get a final decision out of the NRL. The integrity unit spoke to Haas some weeks ago and have been reserving their judgment on the matter until it had been dealt with by the courts.

That has now happened and a decision from the NRL is expected if not on Friday, then early next week. Haas has done his best to mitigate the damage with a public mea culpa.

He also sought out the police he abused and offered them an apology. Yet he looks certain to miss the start of the season, a significant blow for Walters and the Broncos as they look to get off to a flyer after last year’ bitter disappointment.

“I take full responsibility for what happened and I’m extremely sorry for my actions on that night,” Haas said.

“I have gone to see the police officers involved and offered them a full apology for my conduct, as well as spending time with police going through what I did.

“I had been drinking and the words I used and the way I acted were totally unacceptable. I’d like to thank the police for taking the time to see me, and accepting my apology.

“I did the wrong thing and let myself down as well as my family and the club – but most importantly, I acted in a way that showed disrespect to the police, and I am really sorry for that.

“I will learn from this incident and I will be a better person in the future.”

Haas was considered a contender for the captaincy but the latest events are likely to prevent that happening. Regardless, he is the Broncos’ best forward and arguably their best player, his absence leaving a void that the Broncos will be unable to fill.

“Payne’s behaviour was disappointing and not acceptable – he knows he has done the wrong thing and has taken ownership of his actions, and apologised in person to the police involved as well as sitting with them to run through his behaviour on that night,” said Broncos chief executive Paul White.

“Those steps, off his own bat, show that Payne wants to be better and improve as a person, and we will continue to work with Payne to ensure he continues to receive the support and education that he needs.”