Payne Haas’ impending departure has reportedly been triggered by a ‘lowball’ contract offer from Brisbane that fell well short of expectations for a player of his stature.
According to reports at WWOS, the superstar prop felt he had been significantly undervalued and that his stature at the club was not respected by the Broncos in negotiations over his next deal.
It has been claimed the club’s initial proposal was stunningly below his current earnings, a figure seen as out of step with his standing as arguably the best prop in the world.
That moment is said to have opened the door for the Rabbitohs to make their move, with Haas and his management exploring the Sydney switch.
South Sydney reportedly tabled a huge offer that matched Haas’ reputation and influence in the NRL, dwarfing the much lower Broncos contract.
Haas has since agreed to join the Bunnies from next season in a move that stunned the NRL world, with this further revelation adding to the shock of the Broncos losing a player nobody saw leaving the only club he has played for.
The news does not paint the Broncos brass in a good light at all if correct, with the only hope of redemption now the NRL’s mandatory cooling-off period, which leaves the door slightly ajar for Brisbane to attempt a dramatic late turnaround in negotiations.
Fresh reports suggest the Broncos are now preparing a massive offer that could be the richest in Broncos history, over a five-year period, with the hope the additional two years will help repair the damage the initial offer appears to have created.
There is also talk of flexible clauses being discussed that could provide future options beyond the NRL as well, something that is unlikely to be in the Rabbitohs contract.
At just 26 years old, Haas is still in his prime and his impact on both sides of the ball has made him central to the Broncos recent success, including their premiership triumph just last season.
Senior figures at the club are understood to be keen to keep dialogue open throughout the cooling-off period as they push to prevent losing a generational talent whose decision will shape their future.
Recent NRL history has shown that contract backflips during these windows are rare but not impossible, with famous backflips by similar stars like Daly Cherry-Evans and James Tedesco occurring in the past.
Whether Brisbane’s upgraded proposal is enough to change Haas’ mind, and repair the damage now done, is yet to be determined, but the revelation that they seemingly lowballed someone as important and talented as Payne Haas is absolutely extraordinary.
