NRL grand final Confidential: Payne Haas to step up talks with R360 bosses, contract details revealed
Broncos grand final hero Payne Haas is expected to step up talks with R360 bosses this week as the rebel rugby competition eyes the game’s best prop. It comes as elements of the contract sent to player agents are revealed.
Brisbane superstar Payne Haas will step up talks with R360 bosses this week as the rebel rugby union competition prepares to formally pitch to one of the NRL’s biggest stars.
Grand Final Confidential can reveal that officials from R360 reached out to Haas’ camp recently to inquire about his interest in switching codes and joining the fledgling rugby union competition.
It is understood they agreed to put talks on hold until after the grand final. Now that the grand final has been won and done, Haas is expected to sit down within days to hear what R360 officials have to say.
The NSW and Australian front rower is off contract at the end of next season, which coincides with their inaugural season of R360.
It is understood that the Broncos have been kept informed of developments on Haas’ future and are aware that he and his management plan to have a zoom call with R360.
Revelations that R360 have formalised their interest in Haas comes as Grand Final Confidential reveals key elements of the short-form contract that has been sent to player agents in preparation for the competition’s launch.
It can be revealed that NRL players weighing up a move to R360 may be required to undertake a medical while still under contract to their rugby league clubs.
This masthead can reveal that one of the terms in a short-form contract sent to NRL player agents states that any deal for the inaugural season of R360 - which is scheduled to begin on October 2 next year - is conditional on the player passing a medical examination by December 20 this year.
Several of the players who have been linked with R360 including Melbourne’s Ryan Papenhuyzen and South Sydney’s Jye Gray are under contract for at last another 12 months
Parramatta winger Zac Lomax has another three years remaining on his deal with the Eels. It seems hard to believe that NRL clubs will allow players to undergo medicals with a rival code while they remain under contract.
Even if they did, the NRL is likely to frown on anything that would aid R360 given the breakaway competition has targeted rugby league players at a time when the game is ready to expand.
The NRL has been sceptical about the threat of R360 but at the club’s request, they are expected to adopt a formal stance on the rival competition next week.
There are likely to be serious repercussions for players and agents who attempt to break their contracts to chase the big dollars on offer in R360.
ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys reiterated on Sunday that players and their agents needed to read carefully.
“We have looked at this supposed model they are going to put forward,” V’landys said.
“It will go broken within weeks, not even months You’re risking your whole career for a short-term sugar hit because we might show some pretty harsh action against those people who don’t show the loyalty they should be showing to the game.
“These players have to appreciate it is the NRL competition that has given them their brand.”
Interestingly, the short-form contracts sent out by R360 run from July 1 next year until the end of 2028. Again, the likes of Papenhuyzen, Gray and Lomax are all under contract until the end of next year.
This masthead can reveal other key details of the short-form contract being sent out by R360 officials. The competition has been registered by AOTG Sport Ltd, which is registered at the East Midlands Airport, about three hours north of England.
Players will be paid in American dollars and share in 25 percent of prize money from the events - six men’s and four women’s teams will play six events in the opening season next year.
R360 will cover accomodation at pre-season training as well as fly family members to at least two events during the season.
Any legal disputes must be dealt with by English courts - the players waive their rights to legal challenges in any other jurisdiction.
Players have the rights to arrange their own boot sponsorship but otherwise waive their image rights.
RABBITOHS EYE OFF-CONTRACT STORM STAR
South Sydney could be a potential landing spot for impressive Storm bench forward Tui Kamikamica after he rejected advances from Super League club St Helens.
Kamikamica was the only one of the 34 players who took part in Sunday’s decider who has no club yet for next season. The Storm have only been able to put together a minimum-wage deal for him as they struggle to navigate their salary cap.
A couple of other Sydney clubs have had a nibble but the Rabbitohs have now emerged as a potential landing spot for the 31-year-old.
The Rabbitohs would need to shift a player to accommodate the Fijian international.
Kamikamica’s fellow bench player, Ativalu Lisati, has agreed to a 12-month extension at the Storm and is also in about a long-term deal.
SUPER LEAGUE SALE TALKS
ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys has revealed he and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo will meet Super League club bosses next month as they continue to explore buying a stake in the English game.
V’landys and Abdo will be in England to watch the Ashes series but plan to use that trip to help strengthen their ties with the powerful clubs in Super League.
V’landys, speaking on Triple M NRL on Sunday, also reiterated that they were open to buying a stake in the England game.
Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson and South Sydney’s Blake Solly have been the driving forces behind a plan that would see the NRL buy a 51 per cent stake in Super League.
“We’re looking at it,” V’landys said.
“We want to make sure rugby league survives in England and that it is vibrant and healthy. There’s certainly some (green) shoots there that can be expanded.
“We will go over there for the Australia-England game and we will be speaking to some of the Super League clubs to see how we can help.
“We have nothing certain but we will certainly look at it because it’s very important to have a strong English competition.”
COMMENTATOR MISSES GRAND FINAL
ABC broadcaster Andrew Moore is eyeing a comeback to the commentary box later this year as he misses his first grand final in almost two decades.
Moore suffered a life threatening heart attack in August and is on the recovery trail. He watched the premiership decider from home.
“I am recovering slowly but well,” Moore said. “I feel really good. I am getting stronger and constantly going back to the hospital and GP for checks and everyone feels happy.
“It is very weird not being at the game. I was getting a lot of messages on Sunday morning asking if I am OK. It is weird but I am fine with it.
“Watching the game is strange. It is the first grand final I haven’t been at in 20 years and I have called 15 of the past 16. It is no doubt strange but I am alright with it.”
HOW TO WATCH, LISTEN: EVERY NRL GRAND FINAL BROADCAST REVEALED
The medical episode was so catastrophic that Moore was told he had just a 20 per cent chance of surviving. He spent 24 days in hospital after four operations.
Moore wants to return to call Test football later this month.
“I am hoping to return in a couple of weeks,” Moore said. “That will depend on getting an official medical clearance and from there I am targeting the start of the Pacific Championships or an Ashes Test or two (from the studio).
“Hopefully my first return to the football ground will be the final of the Pacific Championships in November.”
Quentin Hull called the grand final in Moore’s absence.
LOSING MUNSTER HARD TO BEAR
Melbourne chair Matt Tripp says the club will move heaven and earth to keep Cameron Munster but concedes they will listen to the Storm superstar if he wants to explore his options in Perth.
Munster is contracted with the Storm until the end of 2027 but has been linked with the Perth Bears as they look to make a big splash when they enter the premiership in just over 12 months.
Munster would need permission to open formal negotiations with Perth and Tripp has indicated he would not stand in his way if that is what he desperately wanted.
“If he wants to have that conversation, then I’m not going to be unreasonable,” Tripp told Grand Final Confidential.
“He owes nothing to the club. The club owes him everything. He’s a life member. He’s been in the club for 11-12 years.
“It would be pretty rude of me to hold him back from going and getting a big payday if that’s what he wants to chase.
“I just hope that we find a way through it. But if a conversation needs to be had, my counsel to him would be I don’t want you to go anywhere, I want you to finish your career at the Melbourne Storm.
“That’s a fact. That’s absolutely true.”
Tripp also suggested the club would look at releasing Ryan Papenhuyzen from the final year of his deal so the fullback can prepare himself for R360.
“It’s a bit like Munster, right?” Tripp said
“That’s the great unknown. We agreed to have the discussion at the end of the year. The rumours around 360 – yeah, they’re probably right.
“They made no secret – they had a meeting and they’re interested. Does that mean he goes for ’26? I don’t know. I’m going to be busy next week.
“There’s a few conversations to be had. They’ve indicated that they are interested in it. Being interested for ’26 – and the comp starts on the 2nd of October – I assume they’re in training two months prior to that at least.
“That’s about round 15 or 16 in our year. What does that mean for us? I also had heard that NRL players that commit for R360 for next year are able to step straight out of the NRL duties and straight into R360 next year.
“That’s a pretty big distraction I would’ve thought. That’s a long year for hem and it just doesn’t feel right to me.”
FORAN EXTENDS CAREER
Kieran Foran will extend his rugby league career with the retiring half to be picked in New Zealand’s Pacific Championship squad.
Despite retiring after Gold Coast’s season ended at the end of round 27, Foran is expected to have an international swan song and start in the halves for the Kiwis.
The World Club Challenge is back on the agenda according to NRL boss Andrew Abdo.
The Panthers pulled out of the match against the Super League premiers earlier this year because of their Las Vegas commitments.
“We will work with the IFL to facilitate the game,” Abdo said on ABC Sport. “When and where it’s played we wait for the two winners and work with them. The World Club Challenge is important to the game and is quite unique.”
The Willie Peters-coached Hull KR and Wigan will compete in the Super League decider.
STORM REJECT SALE BID
Melbourne have rejected interest from overseas to buy a stake in the club. Storm boss Matt Tripp revealed an overseas party had reached out to purchase a share of Melbourne.
The Storm turned down the approach but haven’t ruled out selling a share.
“We had some inbound interest,” Tripp said.
“There were some international parties out there that expressed interest in buying a stake. None of it came to fruition.
“If the right strategic partner came along to help us drive the club to another level, we’d look at it.”
Tripp insisted he wasn’t going anywhere.
“I am 51, the club’s going great guns off the field,” Tripp said.
BRONCOS DITCH JERSEY TRADITION
Brisbane opted against bringing someone in for their official jersey presentation. Instead it was left to the Broncos players to present their own grand final jerseys and it happened on Friday night instead of game eve.
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