More than a week after footage of Payne Haas and Albert Kelly involved in a scuffle came to light, we’re still waiting on the NRL Integrity Unit to announce what sanctions they will face.
And they will – well, they bloody should – face sanctions.
High-profile football players getting in a scuffle in a public place is, in a nutshell, bringing the game into disrepute. People having a go at the person who filmed it as some sort of low-life are way off the mark – this isn’t acceptable behaviour from Kelly and Haas, and what the hell did they expect would happen in 2022?
You might not like it but the bad behaviour of famous people is probably going to be caught on camera.
That a person filmed an incident that was then investigated by the police – more on that later – is not the problem.
That said, if it had been two other footballers, they’d probably have copped a fine each and we’d all have moved on.
The issue is the size that it is due to the men involved and their history.
Albert Kelly is regarded as one of the NRL’s greatest ‘what if’ stories.
Basically, what if he wasn’t such a liability on the piss.
An Australian schoolboy representative who came through at Parramatta, he debuted in first grade for Cronulla, who reportedly beat out the Storm, Wests Tigers, Bulldogs and Titans for his signature in 2010.
He managed 14 games in the Shire and was even named in an extended Origin squad as a project player in 2011, but was sacked in early 2012 for what Fox Sports reported as being “nothing overly serious but still a breach of training and fitness guidelines”, in what was essentially the straw that broke the camel’s back after a string of arrests.
Kelly hasn’t quite lived up to his full potential (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
“When do you stop writing breach notices?” then Sharks chair Damian Irvine said of Kelly being shown the door.
“It’s not about just sacking the kid. He’s had umpteen notices when you only need three.
“It’s very disappointing because Darren (Mooney) and Shane (Flanagan) put in so much work with the kid. They afforded him so much effort and time. Sadly, it doesn’t always work out.”
Kelly got a reprieve later that year, signing a second-tier deal at the Knights, but that lasted only a matter of months, getting the boot after smashing a light – having taken his shirt off, which is a detail I found too good to leave out – at Newcastle nightspot Fanny’s (which, in a heartbreaking and baffling move, has renamed itself Argyle House, meaning when it was at the centre of a COVID outbreak late last year, we were robbed of the opportunity for some truly brilliant headlines).
‘‘There is no doubt Albert is a talented young player who obviously had some issues off the field while living in Sydney,’’ then Knights CEO Matt Gidley said.
“Unfortunately, due to further disciplinary reasons, Albert has recently had his NSW Cup contract suspended, then terminated.”
After two years at the Titans, Kelly made the move to the UK, where in 2018 he again made headlines for his drunken antics, with the Yorkshire Post reporting he was filmed “launching drunken, foul-mouth abuse at a female McDonald’s worker”.
His club, Hull FC, said they dealt with the matter “internally” and that was it. But then Albert Kelly was a big fish in the Super League at the time, having been shortlisted for the Man of Steel the previous year.
In Brisbane he’s a third-choice half – at best – with a contract that expires at the end of this year.
Now, you could argue Kelly is the wronged party in this incident. Apparently he’s acted the goose by purposely treading on Haas’ new shoes, but punching someone in the head because he scuffed up your kicks is a massive overreaction.
Like, seriously Payne, say out loud, “I punched Albert Kelly in the head because he trod on my shoes.”
You get how juvenile that is, right?
That Haas reportedly wasn’t drinking at the time shouldn’t be seen as a mitigating factor – acting this way while sober is arguably more of a red flag.
But in the aftermath of the incident, the club was quick to put Kelly forward as the man in the wrong, with Kevin Walters telling reporters he didn’t “think Payne did anything too wrong, to be honest”.
He reiterated that view over the weekend, as well, the coach saying, “Payne didn’t do a lot wrong in the video” and even going so far as to predict that Haas would play against the Panthers this Friday night, since he didn’t anticipate his star prop to be banned.
Sorry to pour cold water on you, Kevvie, but you’re totally going to lose your prop for a while.
Because it’s not the first time he’s been in hot water either, having spent four weeks on the sideline in 2019 for failing to cooperate with the Integrity Unit, as well as a three-match suspension in 2021 for intimidating police.
(Matt King/Getty Images)
The latter incident saw him end up with a two-year good behaviour bond and turns out the police think punching someone in the head for stepping on your shoes isn’t particularly good behaviour, leading them to open a probe into the fight.
Now, I don’t think it’s an incident worthy of the police’s time, but maybe they’re inclined to give a little extra attention to someone who, barely 12 months ago, yelled at officers (among other things), “Get the f**k out of here, bro, get the f**k out of my face or I’ll take all of you on myself, you f**kwits.”
And at the end of the day, that’s why we’re talking about this. If it had been, say, Adam Reynolds and Ryan James filmed in a dust-up, this would already be yesterday’s news.
But it wasn’t those two, because they don’t do stuff like that. But Albert Kelly and Payne Haas? They have both got serious form.
As for suggestions it’s indicative of a broader cultural issue at the Broncos, I’d only say it’s an issue that Haas is going through another round of this.
His apparent ongoing disgruntlement over his contract status – which, as I’ve previously argued, is actually a fair deal considering he signed it at a time when he was an injured teenager who hadn’t played a collective 40 minutes of football – suggests the suits at Red Hill are giving him more than a little extra leeway to keep him happy.
But that’s a cultural issue that I’d suggest is common to pretty much all clubs – I mean, the Roosters were so eager to keep James Tedesco happy that they cleared him of any wrongdoing over the ‘Squid Game’ incident without even speaking to the girl he yelled at.
That’s why we’ve got an independent body to oversee matters like this. Because clubs can’t be relied on to leave their own self-interest out.
So what’s the outcome? Look, I guess we’ll have to wait and see. As I said, if it was most other players, we’re talking a slap on the wrist.
But because Payne Haas and Albert Kelly are serial offenders, it’s not a storm in a teacup that this has been brought to light.
They deserve to spend time on the sidelines, if only for the charge of repeated stupidity.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Yep, should have been left for the Broncos to deal with. Who's Integrity was being investigated anyway? They were having it out with each other, not involving anyone from the general public. Problem still mostly for the Broncos is the internal team damage done. Time might heal, but it also might not. Would not surprise to see either or both asking for a release by July.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
If repeated stupidity was a chargeable offence that brought with it a suspension the NRL would have no more players playing on any given week than the 6 team NRLW competition.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
A serious assault might only last a couple of seconds - nowhere near enough to take out a phone and start filming. It is just as important, arguably more important, to film the lead up to any blows being struck as that could be evidence of self defence or provocation. It would be reasonable for a witness acting in good faith to start filming as soon as they had the reasonable suspicion that a criminal act was about to occur.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
So a push and shove with a half back from your own team gets the same punishment as purchase and consume illegal drugs ( Brandon Smith ) or arrested, charged, and found guilty of possession illegal drugs ( Reece Walsh) You are kidding ? Hass and Kelly would do more damage to each other in an apposed session at training The NRL can not have it both ways, hold players to an unrealistic standard but promote game attendance as a piss up, Case in point the tool with the flares and the porka running onto the field last round. If the players can not have a beer and night out perhaps the NRL should ban alcohol sales at grounds ! And if Kelly was as intoxicated as the media have inferred I assume we will soon be hearing about the fines handed out to the venue and staff from the Dept Liquor and gaming ? Or not ?
Clearance Creek Water
Guest
I disagree, there's way too much of this citizen big brother BS these days. If it was a serious assault , I may relax my opinion for that , but this is just some stooge skulking in the shadows obviously trying to remain unidentified.
Nick
Roar Guru
There is absolutely a risk. Just because it didn't happen, doesn't mean it couldn't happen - and with him, it could happen. If you are the kind of person who thinks intimidating the coppers is a good idea, then you're the kind of guy you who is more likely to find themselves in a brawl. He should just lay low for a while is all. I'm not suggesting to deprive him of his rights.
Nat
Roar Guru
He's never in danger of breaching his good behaviour bond. There is no risk of that in what happened in this instance. The negative imagine embarrassing to the NRL hence the one game suspension but the police have seen it and nothing came of it. Had he spotted the guy with the camera they may have been cause for concern...
Nick
Roar Guru
Yes. But if you are on a good behaviour bond, and you are him, and you are in such circles, have the good sense to know it's best to stay away from ANY risk. Trying to settle an issue with a drunk guy is an example of such risk. Surely the Broncos would have a minder with him at all times if he was to be going out? It's just good sense to have one when you have a prison sentence dangling over this guy's head for the next couple of years. Next time, just don't go out. He's already lucky he gets the choice to go home instead of being in a cell. I'll admit I don't know many people who are on good behaviour bonds, but I have known a couple (peripheral family, friends of friends etc) and I'll tell you that during the time they are on the bond they were absolute monks. They wake up, go to work, go home, go for an evening stroll. The most social activity they would be doing is a sausage sizzle at bunnings. They didn't even want to be unintentionally caught up in something. It's just not worth the risk. If I'm the Broncos leadership, I'd be demanding that of him until the bond is lifted - as a precaution.
Nat
Roar Guru
Haas was suspended for 3 games by the NRL and fined $50k for his interaction with the Police. He is still on a good behaviour bond but, being completely sober, how is taking a drunk bloke away from the public to settle their issue without any altercation effect that? Even the fox guy were laughing at Buzz for trying to build this up. Joe has dug much deeper trying to shovel dirt on this mole hill.
Nick
Roar Guru
Haas hasn't served his punishment. He's serving his punishment. Agree with what you say about the guy with the phone, but Haas really, really should be doing everything he can to avoid anything while serving his punishment. If that means going home straight after practice and games and eschewing even sober socialising for the next year, he should. Beats prison.
Nick
Roar Guru
The seller has no morals. But the buyer who buys of someone they know who has no morals is worse (for me at least). One thing we can all agree on is that all parties are scum.
Just call me Campo
Roar Rookie
I think the author should be suspended for using the American slang 'kicks'. Cultural imperialism. Stamp it out!!!
Nat
Roar Guru
We know the scruples of the buyer. The seller hid behind a bush and sold the footage. If they were proud it would have been published on their own socials.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Filming it is fine – it’s actually a good thing. If this had escalated and something serious had happened, any video evidence would be valuable. And if something more serious was alleged to have happened than actually happened, it would have been very valuable to Haas.
matth
Roar Guru
Yep, but he's not a star or a Bronco, so doesn't warrant an article of his own.
Nat
Roar Guru
Angling for a job with DT Joe? Give the fella hiding behind the bush with a camera his well earned $20k and continue to punish a guy for something they have already served a punishment for. Fair dinkum, there are players suiting up this weekend who are facing actual criminal charges and this is where you point the pen.
Nick
Roar Guru
Who's worse though? The seller or the buyer? I'm going with the buyer.
Nick
Roar Guru
Yeah. I can see why the Broncos immediately tried to lump all the blame on Kelly. A tactical call to try and keep Haas from the focus of the cops.
Tony
Roar Guru
Seems like the solution to his problem is obvious, but difficult to implement
Albo
Roar Rookie
The trouble is Tony, that Kelly actually does have some heap of natural talent that he has never really harnessed and maximised to make a successful career. He fooled me a few years back when he moved to the Titans in 2013 -2014 where he played 33 matches for 16 tries. I thought getting out of Sydney might have been the best thing for him and he would now come good. I was thinking we might even be seeing the development of another JT ? On reflection, maybe the Gold Coast really wasn't the best spot for someone like him ? Next thing we know he is released to Super League where Hull KR and Hull FC had him for 117 matches and 67 tries. He was doing good stuff on the playing fields at times, but what was going on off the field seemed not to have improved ? The Broncos needed some halfback cover , and I guess he fitted the cap restrictions? Seems again we have footy talent just being wasted.