The Broncos are set for a big boost with superstar prop Payne Haas expected to knock back interest from rivals and re-sign with the club.
That is according to Code Sports, who are reporting Brisbane powerbrokers are making moves to lock Haas in long term, hoping to avoid poaching raids from the NRL’s newest franchise, the Perth Bears.
The Bears will join the competition in 2027 and are armed with a mammoth war chest to make marquee signings and were said to be prepared to throw $1.5 million at a player like Haas.
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Speculation emerged last week that Haas was being shopped to NRL rivals after his manager Ahmad Merhi included his name on a list that was sent to all clubs including players who will become free agents from November 1.
However, Merhi has made it clear the 25-year-old has no interest in testing his value on the open market and instead wants to get cracking on an extension with the Broncos, where he is “very happy” at.
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“Payne is not leaving the Broncos,” Merhi told Code Sports.
“He won’t be going anywhere.
“If he wanted to go somewhere, he would have left two years ago.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a hope (of him staying at the Broncos) – the deal will just get done with Brisbane.
“It’s not about money with Payne.
“The new expansion clubs (including PNG in 2028) don’t change anything.
“There is no attraction to those clubs. If Payne went to Perth, he could have gone to rugby (for money), but he won’t be going to either.
“Payne is a Bronco, he has always been a Broncos, he has received some great awards there over the years and he can go down as one of the greatest players for the Broncos ever.
“It’s not a financial decision, it’s got to do with the preference of the player and Payne would love to win a premiership at the Broncos.”
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Merhi’s comments have come at the perfect time for the Broncos, who are on a four-game losing streak and are battling criticism around Michael Maguire’s coaching methods.
The Broncos have stood by and supported Haas through some off-field challenges over his career with Merhi saying those things “have to be taken into account.”
But beyond that, there’s some family ties also keeping Haas at the Broncos. Haas has become the legal guardian of his younger brothers 15-year-old Hans and 13-year-old Geejay following legal dramas with his parents.
Hans signed a three-year deal with the Broncos earlier this year and the pair hope to play NRL together one day.
“Payne has his younger brother Hans coming through the system and he would love to play with his brother one day, maybe even his other brother Klese (currently at the Titans) could play there too,” Merhi said.
“He has a dream to play with his brothers at the Broncos.”
