NRL reveals brutal plan to silence Rugby Australia over Payne Haas poaching raid

ARLC Peter V’landys launched a blistering attack on Australian rugby over its attempts to poach Broncos star Payne Haas, before slamming the door on the rival code.

Andrew Abdo and Peter V'landys. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has hit back at Rugby Australia over plans to poach Payne Haas as Broncos coach Kevin Walters vowed to keep the NSW Origin star at Red Hill.

As revealed by News Corp, Haas has been targeted for a code switch, with RA chairman Hamish McLennan confirming his interest and declaring “it’s time” for the Broncos prop to test himself in “Wallaby gold”.

But as Haas prepares for Friday night’s clash against the Eels in Darwin, V’landys is confident the NRL’s No.1 prop will not follow the lead of Roosters whizkid Joseph Suaalii by defecting to the 15-a-side code for the 2027 World Cup.

“Payne Haas is a great player and it’s important to keep all our players,” V’landys said.

“I’m not worried about us losing players.

“If Hamish McLennan is looking for free publicity, we’re not going to entertain it.

“His sport isn’t doing very well so he tries to use our sport to publicise them.

“I won’t be falling into that trap.

Peter V'landys' plan to silence rugby union.

“If rugby union isn’t good enough to gain its own publicity, don’t use rugby league.

“He is using our product because rugby union can’t generate their own news.

“Maybe if their game was more interesting, they would have some publicity.”

Haas first met with Rugby Australia chiefs two years ago, only for the rival code to withdraw interest after he was arrested following a drunken altercation with police.

RA has yet to formally approach Haas, but McLennan is keen to open negotiations with the prop and deliver the type of pitch that convinced Suaalii to quit the Roosters in pursuit of a Wallabies World Cup campaign.

The Broncos are aware of rugby’s interest, which extends to offshore European clubs, and will fight tooth-and-nail to prevent the three-time Paul Morgan Medallist walking out of Red Hill.

Haas is off-contract at the Broncos at the end of next season, making him a free agent from November 1 this year.

HOW WE BROKE THE HAAS BOMBSHELL

Rugby Australia is targeting Broncos superstar Payne Haas for the 2027 World Cup in the wake of Roosters sensation Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s big-money cross-code defection.

News Corp can reveal RA’s pursuit of Haas is two years in the making, with the Broncos prop first holding secret talks with Australian rugby bosses during Dave Rennie’s reign as Wallabies coach.

At the time, negotiations collapsed when Haas was arrested after clashing with police in a drunken New Year’s incident, prompting Rugby Australia chiefs to abandon their poaching bid.

Now, buoyed by stealing Suaalii from the Roosters in a $4.8 million Bondi heist, RA is again circling Haas, widely regarded as the NRL’s No.1 prop.

On the eve of Haas’ clash with the Eels in Darwin on Friday night, Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan confirmed his interest and declared “it’s time” for the Broncos and NSW Origin enforcer to switch codes.

“Payne could definitely be wearing Wallaby gold,” McLennan told News Corp.

“We really like Payne. He has a strong rugby pedigree and it’s probably time for him to spread his wings and do something really special.

Rugby Australia puts poaching target on Broncos star Payne Haas.

“The Broncos are great — but playing for the Wallabies against the British Lions would be even better.

“By playing rugby, Payne can see the world.”

RA has yet to formally approach Haas, but McLennan is keen to open negotiations with the prop and deliver the type of pitch that convinced Suaalii to quit the Roosters in pursuit of a Wallabies World Cup campaign.

The Broncos are aware of rugby’s interest, which extends to offshore European clubs, and will fight tooth-and-nail to prevent the three-time Paul Morgan Medallist walking out of Red Hill.

Haas is off-contract at the Broncos at the end of next season, making him a free agent from November 1 this year and available for Australia’s 2025 Lions Tour and 2027 World Cup campaign.

Wary of poaching threats, Broncos management have opened preliminary talks to extend Haas with a view to making him the first $1 million forward in Brisbane’s 35-year history.

Rugby Australia bosses successfully poached Roosters young gun Joseph Suaalii (pictured) and now have their sights on Broncos enforcer Haas.

The 23-year-old is currently Brisbane’s highest-paid player on $848,000 this season, but if Suaalii’s $1.6m a season RA deal is any barometer, Haas could stand to make almost double by playing for the Wallabies.

Significantly, Haas has a history in rugby — and RA have targeted him before.

Early in 2021, RA delegates flew to Queensland for a secret meeting with Haas.

The parties discussed the appeal of Haas representing Australia at the next World Cup, but the talks failed to progress to a formal offer after the Broncos bookend was involved in an off-field drama at Tweed Heads.

However, RA’s successful strike on Suaalii prompted McLennan to recently suggest other NRL players are on their radar and Haas is among the targets.

The 118kg hulk was previously a member of the Wallabies’ Gold junior development program. He played No.8 in the Newcastle region in his teens before focusing on rugby league when the Haas family moved to the Gold Coast.

Former Broncos captain Corey Parker helped mentor Haas in his formative years at Red Hill and believes the Origin and Test front-rower has the size, skill and mobility to be a sensation in rugby.

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

“Payne is not your normal rugby league athlete.

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan. Picture: Stuart Walmsley/Rugby Australia

“He is such a gifted forward and 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.

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

“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.

“I don’t know what sort of money he would attract in rugby, but would he get more than he could get in the NRL? Maybe.

“If he is a $1 million forward in league, Suaalii went to rugby for $1.6 million, so it’s pretty good coin.

“If he has that rugby experience as a junior, there would be that temptation to go across.”

Another key factor is Haas’ management.

His new agency stable has close links with Khoder Nasser, who manages Sonny Bill Williams and helped turn SBW into a cross-code icon, shifting to French rugby before becoming a World Cup-winning, dual international with the All Blacks.

Haas is close to former Roosters NRL star Sonny Bill Williams, who switched codes and won a World Cup with the All Blacks.

The Broncos remain confident Haas will stay loyal. The Blues hardman is close to several players at the club, including Origin ironman Pat Carrigan, who recently inked a five-year upgrade, and Haas’ burning goal is to win a premiership at Red Hill.

Last year, Haas told News Corp he had unfinished business at the Broncos and was not satisfied with winning Brisbane’s best-and-fairest award.

“It means a lot to win the Paul Morgan Medal, but I would rather win premierships for the Broncos,” Haas said.

“The individual accolades are nice but I would rather win comps and play finals footy.

“I have missed out the last two years and it sucks sitting there watching other teams play in the big sudden-death games and lifting the NRL trophy.

“I would love to bring that to the Broncos. This is a special club and I know we have the young guys coming through here, like Patty Carrigan, Kotoni (Staggs) and Selwyn (Cobbo), to get to the top.

“I want to help us build that legacy and make the Broncos successful again.”

Originally published as NRL reveals brutal plan to silence Rugby Australia over Payne Haas poaching raid