Broncos prop has more than a million reasons to sign a long-term deal
AS PAYNE Haas prepares for Saturday’s clash with the Warriors at Redcliffe, News Corp can reveal details of the prop’s proposed six-year Brisbane contract, which shows the NSW Origin enforcer has been offered up to $1.05m a season.
The revelation emphatically quashes speculation that the threetime Paul Morgan Medallist is underpaid at the Broncos.
Sydney media reports have alleged Haas, off-contract at the end of 2024, is unsettled at the Broncos and threatening to quit the club if he is not paid $1m a season.
Rumours sweeping league circles suggest the Roosters are desperate to poach Haas as they prepare for life after Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, and are ready to pounce if Brisbane’s best player does not see a long-term future at Red Hill.
But contrary to reports, a News Corp investigation into Haas’ contractual affairs shows Brisbane’s latest offer stands to make him the first $1m forward in the Broncos’ 34-year history.
The Broncos have had a galaxy of champion forwards throughout their decorated history, headlined by Shane Webcke, Petero Civoniceva, Glenn Lazarus, Gorden Tallis, Sam Thaiday, Andrew Gee, Brad Thorn, Corey Parker and Tonie Carroll.
But none were ever paid close to $1m annually. Anthony Milford remains the only player since Brisbane’s premiership entry in 1988 to receive a seven-figure sum.
But if Haas was to sign on the dotted line, he would not only be Brisbane’s financial top dog, but the highest-paid middle-forward in the NRL today, eclipsing the likes of
Jason Taumalolo ($1m), Andrew Fifita ($850,000), Addin FonuaBlake ($850,000) and David Klemmer ($800,000).
Last August, it is understood Brisbane’s board gave formal approval for Haas to be offered a sixyear contract to secure him to the Broncos until the end of 2027.
This season, Haas is on $750,000. Next year, the Blues bookend stands to pocket $850,000 and $950,000 in 2024. Should he ink the extension, Haas would enter the NRL’s elite $1m club, earning $1.05m for seasons 2025, 2026 and 2027. He also has a club-approved sponsored car worth $25,000 annually. In total, his Broncos package is valued at $5.85m.
The figures underline how seriously the Broncos value Haas at a time when the prop is locked in a legal dispute with his former manager, Chris Orr of PSM, which has been a factor in talks stalling.
Orr is the same agent who brokered a $3.4m Broncos extension for Haas in July 2018, when the rookie prop, then aged 18, had played just three NRL games.
Last July, Orr proposed a fresh extension: a 10-year deal for Haas.
The parties eventually agreed to a six-year term and sent it to the Broncos board for their imprimatur.
Six months later, the $5.85m deal is gathering dust, with Haas baulking at signing a contract organised by his previous agent Orr.
Haas has recently joined the management stable of former NRL player Tyran Smith, the father of Storm centre Reimis, who has been gauging the prop’s market value.
Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould has told Haas he is not worth $1m, but Brisbane’s package is evidence that if the 22-year-old wishes to remain at the Broncos, he would not be short-changed.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters scoffed at suggestions the club is not paying Haas market rate.
“Everyone knows Payne and his value here to the club,” he said.
“We are really happy to have him here and we have him here for the next three years and I want to make sure Payne is happy playing here at the Broncos.
“I have never been concerned about the money and it won’t be an issue with money going forward.
“Payne’s value is what clubs want to pay for him. I’m very confident he will stay. He loves it here and I’m sure we can come to an agreement.”
The elephant in the room is the Roosters. There is a view Haas is refusing to sign with the Broncos because of his relationship with his mentor Sonny Bill Williams, the Roosters legend who helped with the Brisbane prop’s conversion to Islam in 2019.
Haas, however, insists there is no pressure from Sonny Bill to sign with the Roosters club with whom the Kiwi superstar won a premiership in 2013.