NRL 2023: Kurt Capewell urges Payne Haas to stay at Brisbane Broncos

Broncos vice-captain Kurt Capewell has called on Payne Haas to stay in Brisbane, admitting he doesn’t fancy the prospect of having to play against the hulking forward.

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

Brisbane vice-captain Kurt Capewell has appealed for Payne Haas not to walk out on the club, declaring the Broncos are on the cusp of a Penrith-style premiership breakthrough.

Like Haas, Capewell is a free agent from November 1 and while the Queensland Origin back-rower has no plans on going anywhere, the Broncos are under siege to retain their superstar prop as he prepares to head to the open market.

Capewell joined the Broncos last year after winning a maiden premiership ring at Penrith, where he witnessed from close range the evolution of a youthful Panthers side that morphed into a title juggernaut.

Haas has endured some dark years at the Broncos since his NRL debut in 2018 – the club were wooden spooners three years ago – and Capewell urged his forward cohort not to quit with a premiership dynasty beckoning.

Kurt Capewell has appealed for Payne Haas to stay loyal to the Broncos. Picture: NRL Imagery.

Capewell has moved from Brisbane to Sydney to play NRL, only to come home to Queensland, and he is adamant the Broncos are the right fit for Haas, who plays his 100th game in Friday night’s clash against the Eels at the Gabba.

“I don’t want to tackle him, that’s for sure. I’d love to see him stay,” Capewell said.

“He’s done great things for this club when he was going through a tough time.

“The Broncos have also stood by him when he was going through tough times.

“I think he loves the club. He loves the supporters. He loves his teammates.

“Hopefully we can get the job done and keep him here.”

Asked if Haas would handle a move to Sydney, Capewell said: “I am not too sure.

“Payne is a terrific bloke. His family is here and I think he is a terrific suit for the Broncos.

“Everyone loves him here.

“I am not sure about where he is at with all that. It is up to him and his management.

“One thing about Payne is that he never lets anyone down.

“Even with it (his contract speculation) all going on in the background he is one of our best, if not our best, every weekend.

“He never misses training and is always around the boys. He is a great bloke to have around the club.

“It is a credit to him that he doesn’t let this stuff rattle him.”

Capewell admits he doesn’t fancy the prospect of having to tackle Haas if he does move clubs. Picture: Getty Images.

Powerhouse Penrith are viewed as Brisbane’s main impediment to their first title since 2006 this season and if any Bronco knows the potency of the two-time defending premiers, it is Capewell.

The Origin utility played in consecutive grand finals for Penrith, losing to the Storm in 2020 before finally clinching a maiden premiership ring in the Panthers’ 14-12 defeat of Souths 12 months later in the Suncorp Stadium decider.

Capewell sees parallels between Penrith’s premiership roster and the Broncos’ rising young guns led by Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, Kotoni Staggs and Ezra Mam.

“I see youth, energy, everyone gets along,” Capewell said.

“Penrith are the best team in the NRL. They are the benchmark. They won it last year. They are on top. We are chasing them.

“We do play a different style of footy to Penrith that is unique to us and we know we are not the finished product yet.

“It is a good vibe at the moment. If we play our footy to the standard that we can I think we can beat any team. So I look forward to the challenge of that.

“We have got big-game players.

“A few of them have played Origin as well and that is probably the biggest stage.

“From my experience in finals footy, not too much changes.

“It (finals football) is a lot like the Origin arena. It is big and won on effort I guess.

“We’ll keep driving that.”

WHY SBW HOLDS THE KEY TO HAAS’ BRONCOS FUTURE

A tight-lipped Payne Haas has refused to guarantee he will remain at Brisbane, with Sonny Bill Williams shaping as a pivotal figure in whether the superstar prop stays loyal to the Broncos.

Haas broke his silence to address his future at the Broncos, saying family will be a decisive factor in his final decision as he prepares for his 100th NRL game in Friday night’s clash against the Eels at the Gabba.

Haas’ management last month dropped a bombshell on the Broncos by revealing the four-time Paul Morgan Medallist will test his value on the open market from November 1 this year.

In a desperate bid to thwart big-money poaching attempts from NRL rivals, the Broncos have tabled a lucrative extension worth around $3.5 million to prevent their No.1 prop from heading to free agency.

But Haas appears in no rush to ink a fresh three-year deal with the Broncos amid claims from coach Kevin Walters that a new contract for the NSW Origin enforcer will be finalised in the next fortnight.

Payne Haas has refused to guarantee he will re-sign with the Broncos long term. Picture: NRL Photos.

The Broncos remain privately confident Haas will remain at the club until the end of 2027, but the 23-year-old was keeping his cards close to his chest, refusing to confirm he will commit to a new deal with Brisbane.

“I am in a dialogue with the ‘Broncs’ at the moment,” Haas said.

“I have got a good relationship with Kevin (Walters, coach) and the Broncos.

“We both know where we are at and understand what we want.

“I am not going to say much more than that.

“I’ll just focus on the game this week and celebrate the milestone (of 100 games).”

Haas was coy when asked if his preference is to stay at the Broncos and whether Walters jumped the gun by boldly declaring a mega extension will be sealed before the finals.

“Like I say I am still in dialogue with Broncs and we will figure it out,” he said.

Asked if Walters was premature with his comment, Haas said: “No. They can say what they want. We both know where we both stand and that is all that matters.”

Haas has endured some off-field turbulence over the past year, with his mother Joan currently in jail after being charged by Queensland police following a road accident that killed three people last December.

Haas says family will be a major factor in deciding his NRL future. Picture: Getty Images.

Haas has a large family network – he is one of 10 children – and he says that be a major factor when he weighs up whether to sign a new deal with Brisbane or seek a fresh start with an NRL rival.

“I think it is going to be more my family,” he said of the key driver in deciding his future. “I am going to focus on this week and then sort that out.”

Dual international Sonny Bill is another piece of the puzzle. The NRL and All Blacks legend helped Haas with his conversion to Islam in 2019 and has been a trusted mentor for the Broncos bookend, who lauded SBW’s influence on him.

“Sonny is really good,” Haas said.

“He always reaches out to me, going through some stuff, he reaches out to me and is making sure I’m all good.

“He gives me some advice. Sonny is pretty special to me, we are pretty close so it’s good to have someone like him around me.”

Contracted to Brisbane until the end of next year, Haas cannot join an NRL rival until the start of the 2025 season.

Sonny Bill Williams has been a mentor for Haas and could be a major influence in deciding his future. Picture: Getty Images.

The Broncos have stepped up their bid to retain Haas by tabling a lucrative extension to keep him at Red Hill until the end of 2027.

The fresh upgrade, worth an estimated $3.5 million in total, would see Haas earn up to $1.1m annually – a pay rise that would make him the highest-paid player in Brisbane’s 35-year history.

It is understood Haas’ salary for 2025 could rise to $1.05 million, followed by a further increase of $1.1m for 2026 and 2027.

All 16 NRL rivals have expressed preliminary interest in the 118kg powerhouse, who has been linked with the Storm, Dragons and Tigers.

Haas has a stated ambition to win his maiden premiership ring and the Broncos’ charge into the top four this season has put Brisbane in the box seat to retain the NRL’s best prop.

“It is big for anyone in this game. You want to win premierships,” said Haas, who paid tribute to the Broncos for helping him through a number of off-field incidents in his rookie years.

“You don’t want to be out of finals so you just want to win premierships.

“The Broncos have helped me a lot.

“Obviously I owed them a lot and they have helped me a lot with the off-field stuff.

“I am really appreciative of the Broncos and what they have done for me.”

HAAS KEEPS BRONCOS GUESSING IN $3.5 MILLION POWER PLAY

—Peter Badel and Brent Read

Payne Haas’ contract saga has taken another intriguing twist with his management refusing to guarantee the Brisbane superstar will ink the richest deal in Broncos history.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters boldly declared on Sunday that Brisbane were closing in on Haas and would secure his signature in a fortnight in what would be a massive coup for Brisbane heading into the finals.

But Haas’ agent Ahmad Merhi confirmed no deal is done and stressed the parties are “still in dialogue” ahead of Brisbane’s clash with the Eels on Friday night at the Gabba.

The round 24 showdown will represent Haas’ 100th NRL game for the Broncos, a month after Merhi dropped a bombshell on the club by revealing plans for Brisbane’s No. 1 prop to test his value on the open market from November 1.

Haas and the Broncos have still not reached a deal. Photo: Scott Davis/NRL Imagery

While Walters claims a Haas extension is imminent, Merhi released a statement on Monday night saying the four-time Paul Morgan Medallist has yet to commit to a new deal as he focuses on his century and Brisbane’s title assault.

“I have a wonderful relationship with ‘Kevvie’ (Walters),” Merhi said.

“We have always been hopeful of a good outcome with the Broncos and we are still in dialogue.

“This week is Payne’s remarkable 100-game milestone.

“It’s a milestone that Payne, his family, friends, team and the fans should be celebrating.

“Talk of other issues only distracts from this milestone achievement and Brisbane’s run to the finals.”

The Haas camp’s latest statement leaves the door ajar for the Dally M Medal contender to weigh up quitting the Broncos amid interest from the Storm, Wests Tigers and Dragons.

Contracted to Brisbane until the end of next year, Haas cannot join an NRL rival until the start of the 2025 season.

The Broncos remain confident the 23-year-old will not walk out on a club in premiership contention and Brisbane have stepped up their bid to retain Haas by tabling a lucrative extension to keep him at Red Hill until the end of 2027.

The fresh upgrade, worth an estimated $3.5 million in total, would see Haas earn up to $1.1m annually – a pay rise that would make him the highest-paid player in Brisbane’s 35-year history.

Former playmaker Anthony Milford is the only Bronco to have reached the $1 million mark, but Brisbane’s new offer to Haas would put him in a league of his own at Red Hill.

Haas is due to earn $848,000 next season on his existing contract but under the new deal put to his camp by the Broncos, he will receive an immediate pay rise and continue to earn seven figures for years to come.

Haas’ camp denied coach Kevin Walters’ claims that a deal was close. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

The deal is believed to be for at least another three seasons and be worth around $3.5m in total, taking into account the upgrade for next season.

Walters said on Sunday that Haas would sign a new deal with the Broncos before the finals, his confidence no doubt fuelled by the knowledge that a significant offer was on the table.

“We expect to re-sign Payne within the next couple of weeks,” Walters told Triple M’s Sunday Sin Bin.

“We’re very confident we can maintain and keep Payne long-term at the club.

“He is playing some of the best football of his career and is still only 23.”

All 16 NRL rivals have expressed preliminary interest in the 118kg powerhouse and Merhi’s fresh revelation is sure to make Brisbane powerbrokers nervous about a looming bidding war for his services.

It is understood Merhi has been inundated with interest in Haas, with several clubs, headlined by Craig Bellamy’s Storm, publicly declaring their desire to sign the Origin and Test sensation. Others have made their interest known in private.

The Broncos are hoping that they can fend off interest from elsewhere by convincing Haas and his camp to take the deal on the table.

It is understood Haas’ salary for 2025 could rise to $1.05 million, followed by a further increase of $1.1m for 2026 and 2027.

The prop has plenty of clubs vying for his services. NRL PHOTOS

Based on those figures, it is hard to see many NRL rivals having the salary-cap space to blow the Broncos out of the water, with club legend Gorden Tallis urging Haas to chase titles at Brisbane.

“If he doesn’t take it (Brisbane’s deal), he’s never going to be happy in life,” said NRL 360 expert analyst Tallis.

“What he has to realise is being in Sydney, it’s twice as expensive to live there. So that $1 million goes a long way in Queensland.

“You earn $1.1 million in Brisbane, that’s like $1.5m or $1.6m in Sydney.

“That’s a great offer, that would make him the highest paid front-rower ever in rugby league.

“He got booed (when he asked for a release last year) and he said, ‘I want to win grand finals’.

“Now the Broncos are the best team with Penrith. The premiership window is open, so what does he want?”

Walters, also appearing on the NRL 360 program on Monday night, believes Haas is happy in Brisbane and declared the Broncos will fight hard to keep him.

“Payne wants premierships and he wants to play in a successful club, well we feel like we are providing that for him right now,” he said.

“He’s the best prop in the game and has been for the last couple of years.

“We love having him at our club and I’d expect that we can come up with a package that keeps him happy financially, but most importantly he is happy on the field.

“We saw his value against the Cowboys on the weekend so we are going very hard at work to make sure that (Haas staying at the Broncos) happens.”

Originally published as NRL 2023: Kurt Capewell urges Payne Haas to stay at Brisbane Broncos