Rugby League News

Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas involved in future twist

by
Callum Walker
April 16, 2022

Payne Haas’ future has been made clearer after talk of a move to Sydney Roosters has been addressed.

Roosters chairman Nick Politis has commented for the first time on the rumours, quashing any speculation of a potential move.

Haas has been negotiating with the Brisbane Broncos management for almost a year with an aim to becoming the highest-paid prop in NRL history.

There have also been claims that other clubs have been chasing him with Sydney Roosters rumoured, but Politis has no interest in splashing $1 million on him.

“We won’t be signing Payne Haas,” Politis told NewsCorp.

“We are not interested — it’s as simple as that.

“Look, Payne is a great player, that’s not the issue, but if he wants $1 million, we don’t have $1 million in the salary cap to pay him that much.

“People keep speculating it and writing we want Payne Haas, but just because he is mates with Sonny Bill Williams, it doesn’t mean he is coming to the Roosters.”

Politis also referenced the exciting props coming through at the Roosters to further quash the speculation.

“Payne is one of the best props in the game, but we have never had him on our radar. He is contracted to the Broncos for another three years anyway,” Politis said.

“The reality is we can’t fit Haas into our team on $1 million a season. He doesn’t fit in with our salary cap strategy moving forward. We have our own forwards coming through.

“We’ve got Lindsay Collins and we have a couple of other good young props coming through in (Daniel) Suluka-Fifita and Tuku (Hau-Tapuha).

“We also signed two young props from the Broncos last year, the Va’a brothers (Xavier and De La Salle). Xavier is in our Roosters Academy and he is a real talent.

“There’s no point trying to develop those guys in our Academy, then going to the market and buying over the top of them by chasing Payne Haas.”