Payne Haas has made his decision to leave after……
There’s no such thing as a free lunch, especially in rugby league.
The Broncos have enjoyed a stunning revival in 2023 but success comes at a cost and the club’s inevitable salary cap squeeze has already begun.
Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler have signed with cross-town rivals the Dolphins for next season and there’s more pain brewing for Brisbane supporters.
The club is desperately trying to keep Payne Haas with the superstar prop expected to knock back a three-year extension worth $1.1 million per season.
Haas is the best forward in the game and some very good judges are tipping him to finish his career as the greatest prop of all time.
The 23-year-old is most likely headed for the open market where he could attract offers of up to $1.3 million at struggling Sydney clubs.
Haas – who is currently on $848,000 – is contracted until the end of next season which means he’ll be free to sign with rival clubs from November 1 if Brisbane can’t lock him down.
Broncos great Steve Renouf won four premierships at the club and he believes Haas deserves to be one of the highest-paid players in the NRL.
“He’s the No. 1 prop, he’s been our No. 1 player for years and carried us through the bad times – you give him what he wants,” Renouf told foxsports.com.au.
“Obviously it’s what they can afford but I tell you what, he’s still very young and I wouldn’t be letting him go.
“They have to do their utmost to keep him but I don’t actually think Payne wants to go anywhere else because of all the turmoil he’s had outside of footy. He’s really settled now and the club has been really good to him and I think that’ll play into it.”
Haas’ contract future has been making all the headlines, but fellow young guns Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam could prove just as hard to keep.
Mam, 20, is on just $320,000 but the five-eighth could double his salary elsewhere given the shortage of quality of halves in the NRL.
Walsh, 21, is on $450,000 and contracted until the end of 2025, but he could finish this year as the Kangaroos’ fullback and would command $1 million on the open market.
“It’s going to be tough keeping everyone and that’s the way things are with footy and it’s such a shame, but Ezra’s not going to go anywhere,” Renouf said.
“Payne and Reece Walsh too, they all came through the system and love the joint. Ezra grew up in Brissy, Payne on the Gold Coast and they love the Broncos and that’s one thing we can ride on.”
