1
‘It’s about his career’: Why NRL star Payne Haas could jump codes
Brisbane Broncos enforcer Payne Haas has been back in the headlines this week as the saga surrounding his future in the NRL continues to rage on.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to The Courier Mail only a few days ago, the New South Wales Blues representative was set to re-sign with the Broncos.
But then, later in the week, the same publication revealed that Haas was reportedly “set to reject a four-year extension offer worth $1.1 million per season.”
That news has surely come as an early Christmas gift for Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan. You wouldn’t be able to wipe the smile off his face if RA can sign the NRL superstar.
After signing Sydney Roosters flyer Joseph Suaalii to a lucrative deal earlier this year, McLennan and RA set their sights on Haas – and they weren’t shy about it, either.
McLennan told The Daily Telegraph that Haas could “see the world” if the front rower jumped codes. Haas could potentially play the British and Irish Lions in 2025, and a home World Cup a couple of years later.
It doesn’t get much better than that.
One man who knows a thing or two about jumping codes is dual international Mat Rogers. The former Wallaby played for Cronulla in the NRL before switching to the 15-player game.
ADVERTISEMENT
Rogers helped the Wallabies retain the Bledisloe Cup in 2002 – the last time Australia held the prestigious trophy – and was part of Eddie Jones’ World Cup squad a year later.
Speaking on SEN radio in Australia, Rogers warned the NRL community that “rugby union is one that’s coming” for Payne Haas.
“It’s about his career, it’s about his future. He’s got a finals series on the horizon, the Broncos could win the comp,” Rogers told SEN. “Who knows where his mindset is?
“One thing I know is this stuff is not distracting Payne Haas.
“On the weekend he ran for 219 metres, 90 of those post-contact metres, five tackle busts, 44 tackles (and) no misses. He’s doing alright.
ADVERTISEMENT
“He’s been through hell off the field with what he’s had to go through with his family and hasn’t missed a beat. He’s still been the number one front rower in the game.
“Good luck to him. There’s all this talk about is (whether he’s) going to go to Melbourne, is it the Bulldogs? Another rugby league club is not the risk for Payne Haas, it’s rugby union. That’s a risk.
“He’s not gonna go to Sydney for an extra 150 grand. Melbourne aren’t going to pay over a million dollars for a front rower. Rugby union is the one that’s coming.”
It was reported earlier this year that Haas, who has been the best front rower in rugby league for a number of seasons, was “seriously” considering jumping codes.
Haas played rugby union before switching to the rival code as a teenager – the now 23-year-old even played for the Australian Schoolboys in 2016.
“Rugby is something Payne would seriously look at. Payne loves rugby league and the Broncos, but he has played rugby as a kid,” Haas’ father Gregor told The Daily Telegraph earlier this year.
“People bag rugby in Australia but they don’t look at the bigger picture. The NRL is very small compared to rugby, which is a world game.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
31 Go to comments