The future of Payne Haas is once again a hot topic in league land and now, one of the most respected voices in the game has made an astonishing call on the Broncos star.
As it stands, Haas will come off-contract at the end of 2026, which makes him available to rival clubs from the start of November this year.
Brisbane, as you would expect, will be desperate to keep their best player around for the long haul, but the money on offer across the NRL could realistically turn his head.
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The introduction of the Perth expansion franchise, who will join the comp in 2027, has only muddied the waters when it comes to what decision the NSW Blues prop makes.
Early reports indicate the Bears have pinpointed the 25-year-old as their prime target, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given his standing in the sport.
Haas is already reportedly earning a seven-figure salary at Red Hill, but there’s reason to believe his value will further skyrocket as he cements himself as not only the game’s best forward, but one of the best players in the world, period.
Broncos prop Payne Haas. Getty
Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles With Gus, league expert and current Bulldogs boss Phil Gould was asked what it would take for the Bears to lure the enforcer away from his current club ahead of their inaugural season.
The answer is a scary thought for all parties – except for Haas and his management.
“I don’t think you will get Payne Haas for $1.5 million to Perth,” he said.
“Why would he move? I don’t know that there would be a price big enough and I don’t know if Payne Haas would be interested in going to Perth.
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“I might be wrong … it would have to be a big, big deal to move him out of the Brisbane Broncos to go and play for a new franchise in Perth.
“Not everyone has that sort of money for a front-row forward and not everyone would rank front-row forwards as that sort of expenditure in your top 30 budget.
“That’s the reality of it – he’s an exceptional and brilliant player, but I can’t see a dollar value big enough to entice him out of the Broncos and certainly not across to Perth.”
There aren’t many players in rugby league today who have a positive impact on their team on a consistent basis quite like Haas does each week at the Broncos.
With a team full of superstars, Haas stands out in almost every game and many smart judges are tipping him to pull off a rare feat as a middle-forward by taking out this year’s top individual honour in the Dally M Medal.
While it’s not impossible that Haas would leave and move to Perth, it’s extremely unlikely – which is why Gould has urged officials of the 18th team to figure out the “reality” of the situation and look a little deeper from a recruitment perspective.
Phil Gould. Nine
“I don’t think it’s gonna be easy for Perth in any way, shape or form – particularly in the market we have got at the moment,” he said.
“When they get into the reality of what it’s going to cost … it will take a fairly strategic recruitment effort for them to put a competitive team on the field.
“They are gonna have to do a lot of research. I think you look at the top clubs and young players whose pathway might be blocked by senior talent.
“That’s how an Izzy Katoa ends up at the Dolphins – no one had heard of him, but he had a guy like Nathan Cleary in front of him at the Panthers. There might be young forwards at the Broncos with Patty Carrigan and Payne Haas in front of them.
“You’ve got to find those young players at the really good clubs who may have their pathway blocked of getting through to the NRL quicker.”
