Brisbane and NSW star Payne Haas has chosen to extend his time with the Broncos, agreeing to a deal worth $3.5m over three seasons
The extension appeared in Newscorp papers within an hour of the news that Bulldogs prop Tevita Pangai jnr is to retire from rugby league at the age of 27 to pursue a professional boxing career, a move thought to have been prompted at least in part by pressure from his club who wanted to free up cap space to sign Haas.
It comes, too, within 24 hours of news that the Western Force were looking to sign Haas with the hope that he could represent both them and the Wallabies in the future.
Now, it is settled that Haas will remain in Queensland – and in rugby league – for the foreseeable future. An official announcement is due within a day from the Broncos club.
His name had been one of the most mentioned in relation to Wallabies coach Eddie Jones’ planned poaching raids on rugby league, especially given his position as one of the game’s leading big men.
Since Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii agreed to swap codes, all other attempts have failed with Tolu Koula extending with Manly and Souths captain Cameron Murray showing no interest in a switch.
Brisbane had been sweating on their pack leader’s future, especially as he would have been free to speak to other clubs from November 1 under NRL rules.
His management had previously suggested that he would wait until that time to test the market, but with $1.2m per year on the table now – with ratchet clauses if the salary cap goes up again – he has opted to remain at Red Hill.
Tongan international Pangai, who broke into the NSW State of Origin team earlier this season but was punted after one match, is contracted until the end of next year but according to a NewsCorp report, will call it quits after Canterbury’s season ends in Round 27.
Pangai made his debut for Brisbane in 2016 and played 96 matches at the club before a late-season switch to Penrith for a brief stint in 2021 where he made six appearances before an injury robbed him of the chance of featuring in their Grand Final side.
Tevita Pangai jnr. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
He kicked off his tenure at Canterbury at the start of last season but has struggled to be a consistent performer in a team full of expensive recruits which has failed to find success.
Pangai has played 34 matches for the Bulldogs and apart from his lone Origin appearance, he has represented Tonga in six Tests.
The Dogs are running 15th heading into the final three rounds of the season.
They have purchased Panthers duo Stephen Crichton and Jaeman Salmon, as well as Souths utility Blake Taaffe for next season.
Without Haas in the market, they will have $800,000 to spend on other talent who may come available. Luke Thompson, one of their top earners in the pack, is also off contract this year, leaving a gaping hole in their middle.
The likes of Moeaki Fotuaika, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Toby Rudolf and the Molo brothers are off in 2024, but it would be very difficult for the Dogs to sign anyone before that, and they would likely have to pay overs to get anyone through the door.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Other than the Adelaide but I don’t disagree with much of that If you’re going to give onfield rewards for local juniors then the league needs to look at how they’ve divided up the junior catchments - particularly in Sydney You can’t give the Roosters a postage stamp size catchment area with no kids in it and give the Panthers half of Sydney and then hand out rewards for how many local juniors they produce I’m sure you’ll come back with who cares about Sydney or similar
Rellum
Roar Guru
Yes Adelaide needs a team. If we want to get out of just a QLD/NSW game then Adelaide needs a team. Part of growing the game is brining new players in, kids. Brisbane does that, Redcliffe does that. So does the Titans, Storm, Panthers, Knights, Raiders, Warrior and Cowboys to varying degrees of success, or at worst have the potential to do so. The Storm needs to do a LOT more to bring in more Victorian players. The other teams, All in Sydney do not bring in enough for the amount of teams in that area. If we are going to grow, we either go to 22 teams or we lose/relocate Sydney teams. Salary cap concessions for bringing through kids from you local area, the more local they are the more concessions(none of this signing 16 year olds and claiming them as local juniors) is needed to grow the game.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It’s not me lecturing anyone bro. You’re the one banging on about juniors. Just pointing out that despite the biggest junior catchment area in the world, the broncs are also happy to sign players from elsewhere Adelaide… you talk about juniors and then say Adelaide needs a team :laughing: :laughing:
Rellum
Roar Guru
He will be gone after that
Rellum
Roar Guru
I come back from a few days away and I am greeted with this nonsense. Your team is trying to buy a title and you have the hid to lecture anyone on contracts or signings :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: You have been drinking too much mate. We sign one player to a $1m+ contract and somehow we are as bad as the Rorters who have 3 or 4?? You are better than that Barry. And if you want juniors, move to a new place and help grow the game and stop feeding off other teams. Perth, NZ, Adelaide and even PNG need a team.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think Max King is a close enough like to like for Tolman - smaller body, high work rate. But like Tolman he’s not going to own the middle and not the guy you want leading the pack. We need a big aggressive middle third forward leader. Not sure who that’s going to be, but he ain’t here yet I have huge fears if our middle third is going to be some combo of King, Knight, Sutton, Morrin, Edwards. We will get belted through the middle I’ve always been a big fan of Kikau and was stoked when we signed him… but couldn’t help thinking Martin was more the type of player we needed
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Don’t need to for the Dogs, Roosters, Manly , South’s. To start with , aren’t the Dogs all around Newcastle now, plus the north coast? Or do they also want to be known as the Canterbury Clydesdale’s ? Here’s an old piece from another article: Chelden Hayward and Genesis Sherlock, two outside backs of the New Zealand Bulldogs Academy players who reside in Christchurch, were also invited to participate in an NRL training session to gain some first-hand experience the intensity of first-grade training. Looks like the Bulldogs have ‘their’ junior set up pretty well covered. :laughing:
Panthers
Roar Rookie
You’ll be pleased as punch to know that Haas gets an upgrade on the new contract , when the cap goes up. Cap goes up, he goes to $1.3 million per season. Does it stop , if the cap goes up again after that?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
It makes sense props don’t earn the most as they tend to play low minutes so you need more in your 17. Haas plays big minutes for a prop though so that changes everything
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
If you don’t believe all payments are disclosed then publishing disclosed salaries won’t satisfy you
The Barry
Roar Guru
Find a place? Pretty sure we founded the place…? :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Didn’t the Broncs just sign a NSWman for 1.3 a year? Where’s your halfback from? Joooooooniors
Rellum
Roar Guru
No, find a place that grows the game if you don't have any juniors already
Rellum
Roar Guru
"Drew Hutchison playing halfback" Not for long. They might set their sights on a few Bulldogs as well
The Barry
Roar Guru
Walsh has already been and gone and come back Listen to how he speaks about the club… didn’t he call Carrigan a c..t
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hahaha… sombrero deals :laughing: The Broncs have got a star studded origin laden roster and have just signed a prop for 1.3M a season and you want to point the finger at the poor old Roosters… who have Drew Hutchison playing halfback :laughing: :laughing:
Nick
Roar Rookie
Ah, so Penrith are just triply as bad a team then?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Ok, that’s fine, but re-divvy the junior boundaries so it’s an even playing field…
The Barry
Roar Guru
Didn’t he tour the Panthers facilities and almost sign with them, maybe around 2014 or so…
The Barry
Roar Guru
Panthers have lost heaps of players over the past 3-4 years… Tamou, Mansour, Koroisau, Burton, Naden, Capewell, RCG, Maloney, Momorovski, Tetevano, Kikau, Egan, O’Sullivan, Katoa, Hopgood off the top of my head plus Crichton and Leniu for next year… That’s a hell of a squeeze
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah for sure… I’m honestly not trying to have a crack at you or the Panthers It’s actually the opposite… I think Penrith have done a remarkable job at tapping into their junior resources and setting up a sustainable system for success I’m sure it’s annoying to be losing favourite players and young guns… but it’s far better than the alternative of being linked to every player on the market and trying to cobble together a team of spare parts…