NSW Origin prop Payne Haas is set to follow in Sonny Bill Williams’ footsteps by parting ways with his agent – who ironically was Williams’ agent before he joined forces with Khoder Nasser.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Haas has three seasons left on his deal with the Broncos and it has been incorrectly reported that he is set to sign a new six-year contract with the club. The deal was worked on by Chris Orr, Williams’ former manager.
According to Haas there is no offer on the table because he is set to split with his agent. Orr has emailed Brisbane chief executive Dave Donaghy to put contract talks on hold until he hears from Haas.
Haas is reportedly also at odds with Brisbane’s hierarchy and it appears his salary could be at the heart of the problem.
Haas was paid, $110,000 in 2018; $240,000 in 2019 (when he first played Origin); $450,000 in 2020; and was scheduled to receive $550,000 in 2021.
His salary this year is less than half of what David Fifita is on at the Titans. Haas was signed for less than Thomas Flegler, while Matt Lodge is on $875,000.
Haas would definitely attract offers of $1 million a season but under his current Broncos contract extension, which runs until 2024, he still wouldn’t hit the $1million-a-year mark.
In 2022, he would be on $750,000; in 2023, he would reach $800,000; and in 2024, he would make $850,000.
“Payne is a forward of the highest class – I don’t know if I have seen a prop do what he does in every facet of the game,” Williams told Danny Weidler.
“And he does it at 21 [years of age]. If you could design a front-rower from scratch, it is him. He should be remunerated at the same level as the highest-paid players in the game and there would be no one who has seen him play who could possibly argue with that.”
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