Payne Haas of the Broncos during the round 10 NRL match against the Manly Sea Eaglesat Suncorp Stadium, on May 13. Photo / Getty
Payne Haas of the Broncos during the round 10 NRL match against the Manly Sea Eaglesat Suncorp Stadium, on May 13. Photo / Getty
Broncos prop Payne Haas has revealed he will take the field for Brisbane against the Gold Coast Titans on Friday night after dropping a bombshell on his club.
The 22-year-old is arguably one of the most destructive forwards in the NRL and was reportedly seeking an upgrade for the final two years of his contract with the Broncos.
Set to earn $750,000 this season and $800,000 under his current deal, the damaging prop has been discussed as a million dollar player if he went to another club.
According to Newscorp, Haas' management asked for an upgraded deal to $1m in 2023 and $1.2m in 2024.
Brisbane quickly shut down the possibility of a release via a statement on the club's website.
"Payne Haas is contracted to the Brisbane Broncos until the end of the 2024 NRL Season. The Club will not be entertaining a release," the statement read.
"The Club remains in ongoing discussions with Payne's management about what the next phase looks like for him at the Broncos.
"That includes ongoing dialogue about an extension to his current contract."
It kickstarted speculation over whether the Broncos enforcer would play against the Titans on Friday night, and Haas answered the question himself via Instagram.
"All that matters is we got a game tomorrow night and all my focus is on that. All I can control is giving my all tomorrow night for my teammates and you guys. Much love everyone always," he wrote.
Speaking before Thursday night football on Fox League, Panthers legend Greg Alexander called it an "extreme negotiating tactic".
Payne Haas of the Broncos. Photo / Photosport
But Broncos great Corey Parker said if he doesn't want to be there, the Broncos should boot him out the door, labelling Haas as "selfish".
"It's horrific," Parker said. "Let's just rewind to when Payne Haas first got to the club. He was an 18-year-old signed on a four-year deal after three games and a shoulder reco. Never in the club's history before have they done that.
"In that time, off their own bat through their goodwill, upgraded his deal. Normally when a club upgrades a deal they want an extension. Didn't do that, upgrade.
"Since that time, they've helped him through misdemeanours. And now he's at a stage where he's getting very well paid. He's gone to the club and asked for an upgrade and an extension.
"This player, whilst he's a terrific player, at no stage in the Broncos history has a player been bigger than the club.
"I would let Payne Haas go right now. There's an argument that Payne gets what he wants but from the club's perspective, if you've got a player inside your four walls that does not want to be there, he's thrown all the toys out of the cot and said he wants and immediate release, after five straight wins.
"If you're sitting there doing your boots up and you look across — and yes he's a good player and yes he's going to do well — and this player doesn't want to be there, it's not over. He's getting very very well paid. To me, it shows a real reflection on Payne and from a club's persepective, they hold their integrity high as to how they have looked him during that period of time but at the moment, let him go. If you don't want to play for the Broncos, don't play."
Big 'risk' for young NRL stars
Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds confirmed Haas said he would play on Friday night.
"I've spoken to Payne and he's assured us that he's playing tomorrow, and look he's a professional and I know he'll do his job," Reynolds told Triple M.
"But obviously it's not the news you want to hear for someone who is an important part of your team and fingers crossed that things get solved and that he's at the Broncos for a very long time to come.
"Payne is a professional athlete and there's no doubt he'll turn up ready to play."
However, Reynolds also said it was a tough issue to comment on as players can quickly outgrow long-term deals.
"A lot of players sign on long-term deals, take (Selwyn) Cobbo for example looking at a multi-year deal.
"The rise of these kids these days, they go from being 20 years old fringe first graders to superstars of the game and they outgrow their contract pretty quick so it's sort of a hard one to speak on.
"Payne is a great player who probably signed for a lot less than what he's worth.
"That's the risk you take with long-term contracts. The longest contract I ever signed was after we won the comp with Souths but I was well established then and basically the club knew what they were getting from me and what I could deliver for them.
"These kids coming into first grade, some have only played a handful of games and they're signing five-year deals and getting paid on potential and they probably outgrow that sometimes.
"Maybe they might not live up to it but it's a hard one because rugby league is such a brutal game and you can't play forever and obviously you want to make the most out of your career and yeah it's a tough discussion the NRL need to have."
