Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas has requested an immediate release from his current contract.
His present deal was supposed to last until the end of 2024, however Haas was not willing to wait and instead wants to be out the door as soon as possible. This is due to contract negotiations not ending well between himself and the club.
If Payne was willing to go through with the deal, then it would start at a $750,000 payout this season, before $100,000 added on each of the final two years. The Origin prop was reportedly offered an extension which would expire in 2027 and would be earning a million dollars each year.
Haas believes he is worth more than the cash on the table and the reports were he also wasn’t happy with the money he was getting paid, regarding the rest of his current contract.
According to the Brisbane Broncos, the club will “not be entertaining a release”. This statement was given around just over a couple of hours after the news was released.
Brisbane obviously has been very poor over the last two years, however, the club is on the rise. The Broncos have been on a high recently as they’ve won five games in a row and don’t look like stopping their rampage any time soon. Therefore, an excuse that the club is struggling can’t be added into the reasoning of Haas leaving.
It would be seriously hard to look your own teammates and peers in the eye at training after them knowing that you don’t want to stick around at the club. The franchise that has built him up to be the player he is and backed him since he was a youngster.
I understand the fact that any of the 16 other clubs would want his signature and more money would be offered, but why wouldn’t you want to remain with a team that is shaping up to be a top side, and in just a couple of years a million dollars will be coming your way?
Has Haas demanded too much of the Broncos? (Getty Images)
A major topic that is being debated is whether the Origin front rower is even worth more than 1 million. In my opinion Haas is the Broncos’ most important player, although the length of his contract just can’t mix with the large dollars.
We’ve seen what happened to David Fifita after accepting a $1.2 million-per-season deal on the Gold Coast. He hasn’t been close to his potential and the large contract is beginning to look like a fail if his struggles continue.
I’m not saying the same thing will certainly happen to Haas, however, it’s a risk and I don’t think we’ve seen enough to prove he will be worth his money and continue his incredible performances on a consistent basis. I’m sure Brisbane will be doing everything they can to retain the 22-year-old, but right now it’s not looking good at all.
If Payne decides to stick with his decision of wanting to leave as quickly as possible, then you need to release him, as you don’t want to have a player on the roster who is not committed to the club. The only problem is, if they decide to release him in the coming days or weeks, then there would be $750,000 going to waste.
Ghosthound
Roar Rookie
Haas is a very good player, arguably the best prop in the right now. But at the end of the day he’s still just a prop and no prop is worth $1 million a season under the current salary cap. Haas can help win games by the way he plays, but no prop (not even Haas) is going to consistently win games on individual performances - that’s what ‘spine’ players do, see Reynolds’ recent performances against Manly and Souths. To me Haas is getting paid the absolute upper limit for god-tier props this season and will be getting paid overs in 2023 & 2024. Haas and his management can’t be allowed to get away with this tantrum - and that’s the most app word to describe it as Haas is acting like a petulant child. The Broncos must stand firm and refuse the release. If Haas continues to play up to his usual standard he can be picked for the NRL team. But if he starts underperforming without reasonable excuse, such as a proven medical injury, then he should be dropped to reserve grade and the Broncos should then withhold a large part of his exorbitant salary for not fulfilling his part of his signed contract. If Haas then takes legal action against the Broncos he better be prepared to use up a good chunk of his salary on very expensive lawyers. The Broncos are one of the richest (if not the richest) clubs in the NRL with the money to take a player on in court and fight to the bitter end after a couple of years.
Larry1950
Guest
So we have this potential new precedent where you, as a player manager, say my client has 3 years to run on his contract but signed for less than he’s now worth & he wants more or a release from that contract. Interestingly, doesn’t that mean he was a dud player manager & the player should ask him to forego his 10-15% because he stuffed up? That fixes the money issue. Didn’t he get a new manager who obviously pi**ed in his pocket about getting him “what he was worth” & don’t worry about the contract you signed, we’ll just sook out of it. Broncos should sue the manager & try to get him deregistered by the nrl. Alternatively, Haas could offer to buy out his contract by returning a payments since the end of last season so he can go to the Roosters/Bulldogs/enter club name here on $1.2M a season, isn’t that a fair deal. After all, I assume the Broncos kept paying him while he missed games from suspensions for a range of off field issues. Easy for scribes to say let him walk when they don’t put their hands in their pockets.
Christo
Roar Guru
Brisbanes forward pack is still strong.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Hey Tony. Yes I agree with your comment. I hope the Broncos play hardball with Haas,if he still wants to leave let him go but ensure that he can't play for another club till his current contract expires. Remember Tallis sitting out a season when he left Saints for the Broncos.
Malo
Guest
Haas is the Broncos. No Haas no wins against top 8 sides.
Tony
Roar Guru
Not at those prices
Adam
Roar Guru
Or at least that's what I can tell my boss
Adam
Roar Guru
Reckon I can get an upgrade?
Rellum
Roar Guru
They can't not pay him. The Broncs would have to be prepared to pay him $950k to play for Wynnum. No doubt by that point Hass will be "injured"
Chuck
Guest
If he gets a release the Chickens will sign him up. Nothing surer.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Tony, see also: Josh Addo-Carr, Brandon Smith etc etc. Unless Broncos get a player back acceptable to them to replace Haas then he sticks it out. I don't get this poisoning the well thing. As you say if he dogs it on the field for a couple of years or sits out what does that say to clubs that might sign him and how would it affect his market value? He SHOULD go back and bust a gut for the Broncos and try to boost his value and show what a great get he would be.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Christo, "I understand the fact that any of the 16 other clubs would want his signature and more money would be offered" I'm not so sure about that statement. SOME clubs might want him and be prepared to pay $1m+ for a prop, but I think that number would be quite small. Melbourne for instance would never in a million years pay that and probably wouldn't even pay what he's getting now. The smart teams know where to spend the big bucks from a limited cap and it's not on props.
Phil
Roar Rookie
I can understand the sentiment in cutting him loose. Afterall no club needs a sulking brat who wants his own way but it's time for a club, any club, to stand firm against a recalcitrant and deny him a release mid-contract. If the bloke spits the dummy and plays below par then send him to reserves and let him see his value plummet. When I read who Haas' manager is associated with, it all made sense.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Adam, 2 words - Japanese rugby. You're worth $95k there, easy :silly:
matth
Roar Guru
The Titans just signed his brother …
Tony
Roar Guru
Hi Andrew, cutting him adrift is probably the outcome Haas, and his adviser, is looking for. Then he can go elsewhere for bigger money. The Broncos should just enforce his contract. If he doesn't want to play, let him sit it out for a couple of years on no income and see what his market value is in 2025. If they give in to Haas in this situation, whose next to want to leave the same way?
Tony
Roar Guru
Adam, get yourself a new manager and threaten to leave, ASAP
Christo
Roar Guru
:laughing: :laughing: