HAAS SANCTIONED OVER INCIDENTS
THE NRL’s next superstar Payne Haas has been fined $10,000 and stood down by the Broncos for refusing to co-operate with an NRL integrity unit investigation in the latest black eye for rugby league.
The Keebra Park product will miss the start of the NRL premiership after being slapped with a club-imposed ban following his role in two off-field incidents that involve family members.
It is understood the NRL integrity unit has rubberstamped the Broncos’ shock suspension.
Haas will miss between two to four NRL premiership games, including Brisbane’s season-opener against Melbourne on March 14 and their Round 2 derby with the Cowboys on March 22.
The decision by Broncos hierarchy has rocked their pre-season under new coach Anthony Seibold and continues the NRL’s summer of shame in the wake of off-field dramas involving Ben Barba, Dylan Napa and Jack de Belin. Haas, who made his comeback from shoulder surgery in a trial at Warwick last Saturday night, was yesterday named for Brisbane’s second pre-season hitout against Wynnum Manly this Saturday.
But the 19-year-old’s immediate future is now under a cloud with Haas in danger of being stood down from the trial.
The one certainty is he will not start the premiership, with Broncos chief executive Paul White expected to hold a press conference today to detail the precise reasons for Haas’s punishment and premiership demotion.
It’s understood the Broncos sanctioned Haas after he became embroiled in twin off-field incidents involving violence between September and November.
One was an alleged personal dispute involving family members.
The other relates to a brawl at a Queensland Rugby League semi-final last year that involved his brother and sisters.