Just days after his hasty exit proposal rocked the Broncos, restless Brisbane fans united en masse to derail Payne Haas for the first time in his NRL career.
Reportedly unloved and underpaid, the reverberating boos from a 32,000-strong crowd that accompanied his every carry, if anything, proved his once glowing status had fallen below that of Paul Gallen.
When the Titans jumped to a seemingly unassailable 24-4 lead five minutes before halftime, Haas’ surprise ransom request not only looked to have ended Brisbane’s run of five consecutive wins but also the club’s road to redemption after several difficult seasons.
The fact Brisbane regrouped and stormed to victory confirms a newfound resolve and a steely identity, one that may yet be broken if this latest saga isn’t resolved in the coming weeks.
Signed until 2024 on a reported $750,000-a-season, Haas has to be the highest paid prop in the competition. So much so that it makes you wonder if it’s the 22-year-old waving his arms for a bulked-up deal, or those of a money-hungry new manager.
There’s no doubt Haas is the best front-rower going around, but that doesn’t guarantee team unity, and right now, some believe his position is untenable.
Corey Parker, a Broncos premiership winner and 300-gamer, says Haas’ request is out of line and wants the club to release him immediately.
Parting ways with a player who has won the award as the club’s best for the past three seasons would irk plenty, especially for a youngster with a decade left in his legs.
Kevin Walters is adamant he won’t be released from his current contract and remains confident a resolution can be reached with Haas’ management.
Reading between the lines, there’s a feeling Haas is nothing more than a naive pawn in another man’s rush to fill his own pockets.
Ben Ikin, in his new role as head of football for the Broncos, should call it for what it is: highway robbery. And in what should be a favourable closure, look for him to prove his own worth and outsmart team Haas to honour what was signed long ago.
Further south, Manly’s fortunes and those of their star fullback Tom Trbojevic couldn’t be more contrasting. Signed until the end of 2025 on a deal believed to be north of $1 million-a-season, there’s no doubting the Dally M Medalist remains loyal to the maroon-and-white.
But sidelined for the rest of the year with another long-term injury, if there was to be a concern over commitment, it would lie with Sea Eagles management. By season’s end, the Ferrari with the frailty of a VN Commodore will have started in just 44 of 97 games since the beginning of 2019.
As far as tough conversations on the northern beaches go, any sign of a split would be next level on the nuclear fallout that accompanied the departure of Glenn Stewart to South Sydney.
Turbo will be 26 years old in 2023, and still blessed with time for a sustainable change of fortune. The fact the likes of Benji Marshall and Test cricket captain Pat Cummins overcame years of heartache provides comfort. But at current rates, the Manly salary cap is snookered.
The Sea Eagles’ dedication in last Thursday’s loss to Melbourne never wavered, but without the intimidating presence of Trbojevic, once again, their attack spluttered at best.
It’s been that way since 2019 when injury reduced his season to just 12 games. In that time, juniors like Haumole Olakau’atu have risen through the ranks, and with more on the way, retention could be problematic. The fact their highest-priced star is more often than not parked up only adds to the complexity.
One thing is for certain: there’s no scope for a brazen Haas-like grab for cash. If anything, the pressure is on Turbo to give back, if not time on the park, then money off his bottom line.
Because at the current rate, Manly are feast or famine and face the prospect of not only losing fans in the down-time but a much wider marketability.
Would it be offensive to ask Turbo to take a pay cut, and furthermore, would it pass NRL scrutiny?
Kieran Foran took a pay cut to revive an injury-prone career. Trbojevic’s circumstances are slightly different, but for Manly, it’s an unfortunate situation that at the very least deserves to be addressed.
John Neeson
Guest
Plenty of journeyman Knights played rep footy beyond their abilities. NSW lost many origin games because of the NRL’s plan of picking a side made up of players from struggling teams needing to give their supporters something to cheer for.
John Neeson
Guest
Or tie player payments and premierships to tv rights renewals right easts?
John Neeson
Guest
Turbo reminds me of Mark Gasnier. He’s the absolute best on his day but so injury prone he’ll only have half a career.
Cat Brown
Guest
This idea that Manly can't win without Turbo really pees me. Apparently Manly have the best half back in the business. Queensland half back and Australian half back but he can't get the team a win. What does that say for Queensland and Australia. One of the best half backs, apparently, in the game can't win matches. Why keep selecting him for Queensland and Australia then
Contego
Guest
Sign a contract, fulfil the contract. It’s a simple concept but it’s the law. Clubs get done over if the player gets injured or underperforms. Players get done over if they perform better than expected. Payne Hass’s next contract is his “money maker” and is what he should be concentrating on.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
I wonder how Hass & Co will feel about short term contracts if his shoulder pops again next week ?
Tom G
Roar Rookie
A point often missed is that poor old Payne isn’t likely to get a job at NASA as a rocket scientist when his short career ends. These kids are always going to be moved by money, it’s their only way to financially securing their future.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Not for one second. He’s consistently one of the best and there’s plenty of halves on similar money with nowhere near the talent
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Spot on. And not so much a shake up as evolution.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
I love that ZBS, puts the Bondi in Stockton, the exact shake up the comp needs ????
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
The simple and fairest solution to this contract saga is for Haas, Martin, Turbo and Crichton all to come play at Newcastle. Hey, we can't make top 4, it could hurt your chances of playing rep footy and you won't improve your game, but the positive is.....um, little help anyone?
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Thankfully Brendon Reeves had a clear run.
varun sharma
Roar Rookie
I hope so, imagine getting a bit of love from broncos fans for rest of his life whenever he plays against them....
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Manly have a history with amazing fullbacks that have the injury curse.
matth
Roar Guru
Or accept that if you have the best players they will play Origin. The premiership winners are usually stacked with rep players so I’m guessing it works for them.
matth
Roar Guru
Wouldn’t he have had to sit those matches out anyway under the NRL’s rules? But I guess he wouldn’t have got injured.
kk
Roar Pro
I had used the term earlier in the week, Jason. Coping with the Canterbury rebuild is a drainer.
kk
Roar Pro
I'll stick with Jurbo. Great as Teddy is!
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Hey kk - PITH, I like that, you’ve still got it. ????
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
I didn’t know that about Parker. Cheers for that