Haas vows to make amends

SUSPENDED rookie prop Payne Haas has spoken of his disappointment at letting down Brisbane bosses and has vowed not to ruin his promising NRL career at the Broncos.

Haas will miss the start of the premiership, with Broncos chief executive Paul White confirming the 19-year-old had been fined $20,000 and banned for four NRL games for failing to comply with an NRL integrity unit probe.

Haas was also axed from Saturday night’s trial against Wynnum Manly, just 24 hours after being named in the starting side to face the Seagulls at Kougari Oval.

Haas — considered a certainty to be in Brisbane’s top 17 this season — will miss the Broncos’ first month of premiership games against Melbourne, the Cowboys, Dragons and the Roosters.

Contracted to Brisbane until the end of 2024, Haas last night told The Townsville Bulletin he will not let the first serious incident of his embryonic career derail his dream of being a 10-year Bronco.

“I accept the Broncos decision,” said Haas, who spoke with coach Anthony Seibold yesterday about his demotion for this week’s trial.

“I understand I have let the Broncos and myself down on this occasion.

“I will spend the next five years of my career here with the Broncos making it up to those who have shown faith in me.”

While White said Haas was not guilty of any unlawful offence, Broncos hierarchy took a dim view of the teenager’s reluctance to assist an NRL investigation into two off-field incidents involving family members last year.

One was an alleged matter involving violence, at which Haas was allegedly present but not directly involved, prompting a member of the public to lodge a formal complaint with the Broncos.

Brisbane hierarchy escalat- ed the complaint to NRL integrity unit officers, who subsequently interviewed Haas but believed the talented forward provided limited information that stymied the investigation.

White said it was important to note that Haas was not subject to any police probe.

But he said the Haas suspension for not complying with the NRL should serve as a warning to the entire Broncos squad.