New details of raid shows rugby would blow Broncos out of water for Payne Haas
New details are emerging in Rugby Australia’s raid on NRL star Payne Haas in a development that will shake the Broncos.
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Rugby Australia is the real deal.
The 15-a-side code is reportedly showing the Broncos have reason to be very concerned about the future of star forward Payne Haas.
The Wallabies’ pursuit of the wrecking ball prop has sparked rumours flying in all directions in recent weeks, despite Broncos coach Kevin Walters being adamant the club is not worried.
However, News Corp now reports Rugby Australia boss Hamish McLennan has contacted Haas to begin preliminary discussions about moving to the rival code.
It comes as Fox Sports journalist James Hooper reports Rugby can “blow the Broncos away” with a whopping offer of around $1.6 million per-year for three years.
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The $4.8 million offer would reportedly see Haas jump ship as early as the conclusion of the 2024 NRL season to take up an offer with rugby that would take him through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, to be played on Australian soil.
Rugby Australia has already pulled off one coup by snatching Roosters rising star Joseph Suaalii.
According to the reports, the Broncos are moving to keep rugby at bay with an upgraded offer that would see Haas become the highest paid forward in the history of the club.
The Courier-Mail reports the upgrade would be worth more than $1 million per-season.
“There is a lot of debate about (NRL) players coming to us and we can offer an experience that rugby league can’t. We are a world game,” McLennan told the newspaper.
“At rugby, we’ve hidden our light under a bushel for too long against an aggressive competitor (the NRL).
“Signing Eddie Jones is a real move. Signing Joseph Suaalii is a real move.
“The Lions in 2025 is a real tour and convincing the Australian Government to host the Rugby World Cup in 2027, the third biggest sporting event in the world, is real.
“We’ve done all of this in just over two-and-a-half years, so we’re just getting started.
“I’m not going to get scared off by aggressive rugby league types.”
The 23-year-old did ask for a release from his deal in 2022, a request that was denied, and Walters was adamant Haas was determined to stay at the Broncos, and win a premiership, with a new deal possibly imminent.
“I‘m very confident that that will happen, it might take a few weeks but I’m sure that Payne wants to stay and we certainly want to keep him,” Walters said last week.
“Payne’s been here when there has been some tough times. We‘re into some greener pastures at the moment and Payne is a big part of that.
“We look forward to him maintaining that, he‘s enjoying his footy, loving living in ’Brizzy’. We just need him to stay here, we want him to stay.
“It‘s about keeping Payne happy and making sure he’s learning here and developing as a footballer, which I believe he is. It’s up to Payne’s management and our staff to sort a deal out.
“We‘ve got zero real reason to think Payne wouldn’t want to be here in a few years.”
Originally published as New details of raid shows rugby would blow Broncos out of water for Payne Haas
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