‘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.

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.

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.

“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.”