Brisbane Broncos superstar Payne Haas has requested an immediate release from his contract with the club.
Nine’s Danny Weidler reports that contract negotiations between Haas and the Broncos broke down on Wednesday night, and now the NSW Origin star wants to leave.
The 22-year-old is contracted to the Broncos through 2024, but knocked back a deal that would have made him the highest-paid front-rower in the competition, as he continues to battle with his former management agency.
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“This all relates to money, and he feels he’s not getting the income he deserves from the Broncos,” Weidler told 9News.
“If he’s not the best forward in rugby league, he is certainly in the conversation. He believes he is worth around $1 million a season, he is not getting that at the moment from the Broncos.
“He has been in negotiation with the club, and he feels he is being almost disrespected by the Broncos. He has reached the end of his wick.”
Weidler also revealed the drama may yet result in Haas being axed from New South Wales’ Origin team, which will be named on Sunday evening.
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“He is going to be a centrepiece in Brad Fittler’s team, but Fittler has always maintained he doesn’t want any outside distractions in his NSW Blues team, and this is a massive outside distraction.”
The Broncos released a statement after the news broke.
“Payne Haas is contracted to the Brisbane Broncos until the end of the 2024 NRL Season. The club will not be entertaining a release,” it read.
“The club remains in ongoing discussions with Payne’s management about what the next phase looks like for him at the Broncos.
“That includes ongoing dialogue about an extension to his current contract.”
Haas took to his Instagram account to give his two cents.
“All that matters is we got a game tomorrow night and all my focus is on that,” he wrote.
“All I can control is giving my all tomorrow night for my teammates and you guys (the fans).”
https://twitter.com/kinson88/status/1529716368316440578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Haas has taken legal action against Chris Orr and Pacific Sports Management, but now faces a counter claim in the NSW Supreme Court from his former manager, to the tune of more than $200,000.
As a result, Haas’ lack of current representation has contributed to contract talks grinding to a halt.
Dolphins boss Wayne Bennett said he hadn’t spoken with the wantaway forward, reports the SMH’s Michael Chammas, but it’s clear he’ll have no shortage of suitors should he hit the market.
https://twitter.com/MichaelChammas/status/1529676314877530112
Meanwhile, Payne’s younger brother, Klese, signed a full-time deal with the Gold Coast Titans this morning. There’s no suggestion that his sibling will be heading down the road to join him.
Brisbane, for their part, have rejected the release request.
Haas hit the ground running in 2018, having a barnstorming debut game against the Rabbitohs early on in the year, before injuring his shoulder.
His star continued to quickly rise, being selected for the New South Wales team in 2019, despite having only played 10 NRL games.
That year he also won the club’s Paul Morgan Medal, awarded to the player of the season – and repeated that feat in both 2020 and 2021.
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