Sonny Bill Williams has thrown his support behind Payne Haas as the powerhouse prop pauses to contemplate his future, saying players have every right to maximise their earnings during their short careers.
Haas, who is free to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1, celebrated his 100th NRL appearance in Brisbane’s win against Parramatta on Friday night. Broncos coach Kevin Walters recently predicted Haas would re-sign “within the next couple of weeks” after the club tabled him a long-term deal.
However, the NSW front-rower, a contender for Dally M medal honours, won’t be pressured into a hasty decision. In his pre-game press conference, Haas said he was leaning on the experience of friend and mentor Williams in reaching a decision.
Williams said footballing careers are fleeting – an average NRL career lasts 75 first-grade games – and no one should begrudge them for wanting to make the most of the opportunity.
“If you are lucky enough to have 10 years in the game, you would call that quite exceptional,” Williams told this masthead.
“I’m retired, God-willing I have a lot of life to live. If your career lasts for 10 or 20 years, that’s unbelievable. But for most NRL players, it lasts for less than five. God-willing, you have [another] 40 or 50 years to live.
Sonny Bill Williams has plenty of respect for Payne Haas.Credit: Getty
“Everyone knows my past, everyone knows what I’m about; I’m about the players looking after themselves and their families and their villages and whatnot.
“I’m not here to hear a CEO tell a player that it’s all about loyalty when loyalty works both ways. The only loyal people in this game are the fans.
“So you can jump up and down and question what he’s doing, but when it comes to Payne, that’s what I’ve said: ‘Concentrate on playing good footy’, and that’s what he’s been doing.”
There are obvious parallels between the early careers of Williams and Haas. They were both dubbed the best young forward in the game, found the Muslim faith at similar ages and were courted by cashed-up clubs in both rugby codes.
In demand: Broncos prop Payne Haas.Credit: Getty
Haas’ contractual dealings have become public fodder. The 23-year-old will earn a salary of $848,000 next year, a figure well below his market worth given the rise in the salary cap and his standing in the game, highlighted by winning Brisbane’s player of the year award an unprecedented four times.
“The question I would ask: everything seems to be out in the open,” Williams said.
“All these meetings that are supposedly happening behind closed doors. How does that all come out in the open the way it has? Why are NRL players’ salaries made public?
“If it is, so be it. But why aren’t the people running the game, the people who are getting paid off the game, the people sitting on the boards sipping martinis watching the game and getting paid off the game, why aren’t their pay salaries being made public?
“That’s my question.
“I’m just supporting the brother from afar, he’s got his manager, his family. I keep it simple, I’m a simple guy. I’m not swayed by politics [or the media], I just try to be as honest as I can.
“That’s what I’ve said to him: worry about what you do on the field and it will work itself out.”
Several pundits have predicted Haas could become the greatest prop of all time if his career continues on its current trajectory. Asked if he thought this would eventuate, Williams said: “God willing. He’s 120 kilograms, he’s one of the fastest in the team, one of the fittest and strongest in the team, people tell me.
“He’s a young guy growing up in front of our eyes. I’ve been there, you’ve been there, we all make mistakes.
“We all strive to get better, God willing he doesn’t have any big injuries and his career keeps going on the trajectory he’s going on because it’s amazing.
“It’s hard to believe he’s only 22 and he’s played his 100th game this week. Good on him.”
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