Payne Haas has revealed he is unsure where his future lies beyond the end of his current contract, refusing to declare any desire to remain a one-club man, while confirming he will leave his decision for the end of the year.
The powerhouse prop, off contract at the end of 2026, will be free to negotiate with rival outfits before November 1, heaping the pressure on Brisbane’s salary cap juggling act.
Fullback Reece Walsh’s lucrative upgrade has coincided with standout backs Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo being left without a deal beyond 2025, but the pair intend to stay at Red Hill.
Payne Haas celebrates scoring for the Brisbane Broncos against the North Queensland Cowboys.Credit: NRL Photos
That could require one – or both – to reject more lucrative offers. If not, there will be a queue vying for Haas’ services.
But the 25-year-old declared his focus was purely on ending a Broncos premiership drought dating back to 2006, having suffered two grand final defeats since then.
“I’m not sure at the moment. That can wait until the end of the year … I’m just being present and worrying about the boys here,” Haas said when asked if the priority was to remain in Brisbane.
“I just want to deliver a premiership to the Broncs this year, that’s my main goal. With all that contract stuff, this club is bigger than me, so I don’t really care about it at the moment.”
Haas is in career-best form under coach Michael Maguire – averaging 175 running metres, seven tackle busts and 34 tackles (missing just two) a game.
While he was used in shorter bursts across the opening two rounds, he has combined for 138 minutes in the past fortnight and admitted there was “no actual plan to how many minutes I play”.
The New South Wales Blues sensation also leads the competition for offloads (17), confirming Maguire had given him “a licence to play a bit freely and express myself”.
Xavier Willison has performed strongly for the Broncos off the bench this year.Credit: Getty Images
His union with Pat Carrigan up front – who shifted from lock and accommodated for Kobe Hetherington – has not only laid the foundations, but simplified the role of Xavier Willison.
Used in 34-minute bursts, the 22-year-old has been tasked with providing impact off the bench – running for 90 metres from seven hit-ups per outing.
His form, and that of Corey Jensen, has kept rookie giant Ben Te Kura on the outer, left to hone his craft for Souths Logan Magpies.
The 21-year-old, and tallest player to feature in the NRL (205cm), has been limited to roughly 40-minute stints in the Queensland Cup – averaging 90 metres and four tackle busts, while scoring in his past two games.
Brendan Piakura, who returns to the Broncos’ back row following Jordan Riki’s two-game suspension, implored Te Kura to stay patient while awaiting a call-up.
“He’s going to be hard to stop, and he hasn’t hit his full potential yet. I don’t really like using the word ‘potential’, but he can go very far in this game,” Piakura said.
“I think just keep putting his head down is definitely the way to go for Benny. He’s a freak, so let’s see how he is in the next couple of years.”
While the status quo has yielded three wins from their opening four rounds, Willison – signed, along with Te Kura, until 2027 – has declared his intent to force his way into the starting pack.
Ben Te Kura celebrates a late try against the Melbourne Storm during his Brisbane Broncos debut.Credit: NRL Photos
Such a move may require a position opening up – with Hetherington unsigned beyond 2025 – but the hulking Kiwi was adamant he could realise his goal regardless of who remains in the squad.
“I have had a couple of games where I have started, and when the time presents itself, I will be ready,” Willison said.
“It is the next step coming up. I want to get off the bench and hopefully start soon. I have got to keep pushing, and when that time comes, I have got to be ready.”
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