Payne Haas hunt goes global: Corey Parker says NRL could cover loss of its best prop

While the mooted exit of Brisbane prop Payne Haas to rugby would be a blow for the Broncos, it wouldn’t be the knockout blow many are expecting.

Brisbane's Payne Haas. Picture: NRL Photos

Broncos great Corey Parker has urged Payne Haas to stay with the Broncos as the fight for his signature went global.

News Corp has revealed that French rugby clubs have offered around $1.8 million a season for his services while there is also reported interest from America’s iconic NFL.

Parker hopes Haas, 23, stays in Brisbane but believes the loss of the game’s best forward would not be a mortal blow to rugby league due to its rich production line of talent.

“I hope Payne stays,’’ Parker said.

“I’ve had a bit to do with Payne in his development at the Broncos and he is playing well there.

“But ultimately, if players want to leave, it doesn’t concern me. There is always another great player around the corner. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck went (to rugby union) then Reece Walsh jumped out of the ground.

“The talent pool of rugby league is incredible, it just continues to grow and grow. If Payne Haas left, while it would be a blow, very quickly someone else would step up.”

Payne Haas had a bumper game against the Eels. Picture: Getty

As well as French rugby union clubs, Haas has been targeted by the Australian Rugby Union, who have already snared teenage prodigy Joseph Suaalii, and Fairfax reported on Sunday Haas’ management had also fielded interest from the NFL in America.

Haas has been on the radar of American football teams since 2019 when several college outfits and the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts expressed interest in him.

Haas’ stunning endurance and athletic ability, as well as his size and skill set, have made him an attractive package to scouts in rival sports.

“Payne would be great in rugby, he is a bit of an anomaly,” Parker said.

“He is not your normal rugby league athlete. He is such a gifted athlete, for his size and speed, he is remarkably fit and I have no doubt he would be successful in rugby.

“I don’t know what position he plays because I don’t know the game well enough, but he would certainly have the talent to make it in rugby.

“He is a special talent and he would be an asset for the Wallabies.

Payne Haas is on the radar of French rugby. Picture: Getty

“I am sure Payne is happy in league. Apparently he has a rugby union background and I’m sure Payne will be putting a lot of thought into his future.

“If he has that rugby experience in juniors, there would be that temptation to go across.

“The only person who can answer if he wants to go across to rugby is Payne, but I would think if he started out in rugby, he has an appetite for it and maybe he does consider that opportunity.‘’

CASHED-UP FRENCH CLUBS JOIN HAAS RACE

The battle for Payne Haas’ signature has gone offshore with French rugby clubs tabling massive offers for the Broncos prop in excess of $1.8 million a season.

As revealed by News Corp, Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has Haas on hit list to wear “Wallaby gold”, but the Broncos face an additional threat from the French league that has previously poached a host of NRL stars.

Sonny Bill Williams, who has helped Haas in a mentoring capacity, was a big-name defector to French rugby, while former NRL big guns Mark Gasnier, Craig Gower, Ben Te’o and Semi Radradra all played in the Top 14 league.

Payne Haas is a target for rugby union after playing the best football of his career at the Broncos.

Now cashed-up French clubs have proposed a code switch to Haas, who reinforced his status as one of the NRL’s best forwards with a barnstorming display in Brisbane’s 26-16 defeat of the Eels on Friday night.

The Broncos have opened preliminary contract talks with Haas’ management.

The NSW Origin enforcer is off-contract at the end of 2024, making him a free agent from November 1 this year, opening the door for NRL rivals, Rugby Australia and French clubs to make a play for Haas.

While Haas shocked the club with a request for a release last year, the Broncos remain confident he will knock back rugby’s overtures and stay for a longer term.

The three-time Paul Morgan Medallist has a burning goal to win a premiership and Brisbane’s superb start this season — they lead the NRL with a 7-1 record after eight rounds — will give Haas confidence he can scale the title summit at Red Hill.

Sonny Bill Williams is one of several NRL stars who have defected to French rugby.

But rugby’s interest, and the massive financial carrot from France, represents another competitive market threat for the Broncos.

Haas’ father Gregor told News Corp his superstar son “loves” the Broncos, but confirmed the 15-a-side code is an option for Brisbane’s No. 1 forward.

“It’s no lie about rugby. They are definitely keen,” Gregor Haas said.

“There’s a few clubs overseas who are keen. The world is a big place.

“Rugby is something Payne would seriously look at.

“Payne loves rugby league and the Broncos, but he has played rugby as a kid.

“People bag rugby in Australia but they don’t look at the bigger picture.

“The NRL is very small compared to rugby, which is a world game.”

The French Top 14 competition boasts the biggest salary cap in world rugby.

It was as high as $18.7 million two years ago, but from 2024, French clubs’ payment ceiling will be reduced to 10 million Euro ($16.5m), which is $4m greater than the NRL’s $12.1m salary cap.

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan is interested in signing Haas.

Rugby Australia recently poached Roosters sensation Joseph Suaalii on a $1.6m-a-season deal.

With the currency conversion, Haas stands to make $1.8-2 million per season in French rugby, but Gregor says his son could very well put premiership ambitions at the Broncos ahead of pure dollars.

“I know winning a premiership at the Broncos would be huge for Payne,” Haas Senior said.

“He is playing good footy at the moment and I know he wants to win an NRL premiership.

“I think if Payne went to rugby now before he won a comp, he would probably feel he has some unfinished business.

“Payne started in rugby when he was about 10. He knows the game well.

“He played rep rugby in Newcastle and when he came to the Gold Coast he played in the Junior Gold program at 15.

“Payne loves the Broncos and he has some good mates there, but if you are asking is he serious about rugby, yes, he is for sure.”

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters remains confident Haas will stay at the Broncos.

In the lead-up to Brisbane’s defeat of the Eels in Darwin, Haas said he was playing the best football of career since his NRL debut in 2018.

The 23-year-old has charged for 1533 metres this season at an average of 191m per game and terrorised the Eels with 200m and five tackle busts to keep the Broncos on top of the league.

“I feel like it is (his best football) at the moment,” Haas said.

“I have been doing my own job. I had a hard pre-season and it‘s paying off for me which is good to see.

“My performances weren’t up to scratch last year with my own standards, but I’ve been better this year and I want to keep on building.”

Haas said he is hellbent on breaking the Broncos’ 17-year premiership drought.

“Winning is something you want at this club,” he said.

“It deserves to be a strong club and I feel we are building towards that now with ‘Kevvie’ (Broncos coach Kevin Walters). We just missed the finals last year but we are looking to build again and hopefully get that top-four spot.”

Originally published as Payne Haas hunt goes global: Corey Parker says NRL could cover loss of its best prop