HAAS MAY HAVE NFL FUTURE, EYES FUTURE SWITCH
Superstar Brisbane prop Payne Haas has revealed he knocked back a poaching raid from the NFL in his desire to win a maiden premiership ring with the Broncos.
But the NSW Origin enforcer has left the door ajar for an eventual crack at American Football, saying he is open to an overseas “adventure” if he manages to scale the title summit in rugby league.
Haas’ future at the Broncos has been turbulent over the past 18 months after the champion front-rower dropped a bombshell on Brisbane by requesting a release midway through the 2022 season.
That was a preamble to his management exploring options on the open market last year, attracting interest from several NRL clubs, including the Bulldogs, and a monster $2m offer from French rugby.
But Haas has revealed another shock contender for his signature – the NFL.
The five-time Paul Morgan medallist signed a new deal with the Broncos last August to stay at the club until the end of 2026, but not before weighing up the prospect of testing himself in one of the world’s biggest sporting arenas.
Brisbane’s arrival in the US last week ahead of its historic season opener in Las Vegas on Sunday, training at the LA
Rams facility, has given Haas a close-up view of life as an NFL star. “Yes, NFL was an option for me,” he said.
“It did get mentioned. “We spoke about me coming over here and training for a few years. The option was there. We definitely looked into the NFL, but I wasn’t ready to leave Brisbane at this time of my career.”
Haas says he is a Los Angeles Chargers fan and takes a genuine interest in the NFL, a sport which suddenly loomed as a viable career path for rugby league players after Jarryd Hayne’s stunning fairytale at the 49ers in 2015.
Haas has no immediate plan to quit the Broncos. But if he manages to deliver a first premiership since 2006 in the coming seasons, it could be the catalyst for the 118kg enforcer to roll the dice in the NFL.
Asked if he has a curiosity about testing himself in the NFL, Haas said: “Yeah, there is some for sure. I really want to win a premiership at the Broncos
before I go on an adventure in another sport.
“I feel like if I do come over here (to America), I’m here to make it, not just give it a crack.
“I do like the Chargers, I like Khalil Mack (linebacker). If I did ever try and do that (make it in the NFL), I would be going full out for it.
“I’m here now at the Broncos for the next three years and enjoying it while I can.
“Hopefully we can win a premiership here in the next few years and we will see what happens after that.”
Haas’ manager Ahmad Merhi confirmed fielding offers from NFL scoutse.
“That’s correct, the NFL showed interest,” he said.
“They have scouts here in Australia and I had an approach for Payne to see if he would be interested in going to America.
“They said they had identified him as one guy who can make it in the NFL. The interest was genuine. I spoke to one NFL club.
“It was a basic offer, they were looking at him as an offensive linesman and he had to put on a certain amount of weight. They had to get him to around 130kg.
“The position wasn’t an issue, they believed Payne had the size and the technical skill to make it, but Payne is really content on and off the field in Brisbane.”