Brisbane powerhouse Payne Haas has dropped a bombshell on the Broncos with his management confirming he will launch a multi-million dollar scramble for his services by heading to the open market on November 1.
Haas, who missed NSW’s win over Queensland on Wednesday night with an ankle injury, is regarded as the No.1 forward in the game and is bound to have no shortage of suitors in rugby league and rugby union.
The Bulldogs, Brisbane’s opponent on Saturday afternoon, are expected to be at the front of the queue as they look to supercharge their rebuild under head of football Phil Gould.
Revelations that Haas intends to go to market will be a sledgehammer blow to the Broncos. The club has been attempting to strike a deal with their star man since last year, when Haas stunned the club by requesting a release when talks over a new deal hit a roadblock.
The Broncos convinced Haas to stay but they have been unable to convince him to sign an extension since and his agent Ahmad Merhi confirmed to Sport Confidential that his client would head to the open market to get an accurate gauge of his worth.
“We’re pretty clear that we are going to wait until November 1,” Merhi said. “We’re four months away from November 1 and it would ...be a smart decision to wait until November 1 seeing Payne is the player he is and there is a possibility he may get the Dally M award this year.
“We have discussed it and we are going to wait until November 1. His (preference) is to stay in Brisbane. He also understands that there are other opportunities so he wants to look at those opportunities when they present themselves and then go from there – weigh up the pros and cons and go from there.”
Haas is due to earn $848,000 next season but would easily command seven figures on the open market.
Merhi confirmed Haas was on a list of players sent to clubs in Australia and England who were coming off contract at the end of next season.
The Australian Rugby Union has also expressed an interest in Haas as they look to continue the assault on rugby league that began with the recruitment of Sydney Roosters teenage sensation Joseph Suaalii.
Merhi insisted Haas’ preference was to stay at Brisbane and play for coach Kevin Walters but he owed it to himself to explore his options.
“We hear the rumours as well about Australian rugby and the Bulldogs,” Merhi said.
“I can tell you it is all just hearsay. We do our usual rounds of sending a list to all the clubs in the NRL and in the UK saying these are the players coming off in 2024 and they are up for negotiation on November 1.
“They all respond with the same response – keen to talk about Payne. I think Payne’s concerns last year (with Brisbane) were about being in a competitive team.
“I know he wants to tick boxes and I am allowing those boxes to be ticked. He is ticking boxes at the moment – they are winning, he is in a competitive side.
“I know why he wants to play for Kevvie – Kevvie is a gentleman. Commercially he will wait until November 1.
“Ultimately it is his decision – he has to weigh up the pros and cons.”
Haas missed Wednesday’s Origin through injury and won’t play against the Bulldogs on Saturday. He is due back from an ankle injury next week.
