If he went onto the open market, Payne Haas could command an annual salary somewhere between $1.5 million and $2 million.
And yet the world’s best prop is prepared to leave a seven-figure sum on the table by staying put.
“I’m not really money-driven, to be honest, mate,” Haas said from Blues camp on Tuesday. “I could get big offers from someone else, but honestly, I love the club so much and I really don’t see myself playing for anyone else.”
Haas is contracted to Brisbane until the end of 2026, but is free to start testing the market from November 1, should he wish to do so. There would be no shortage of suitors lining up, whether they be cashed-up rugby outfits or NRL expansion clubs such as Perth or PNG.
His agent even claimed, during the last round of negotiations with the Broncos, that there was a $2 million-per-season contract if he was prepared to leave Red Hill.
Currently on a deal worth about $1.1 million per annum, Haas is already the highest-paid prop in NRL history. However, boosting his bank balance isn’t a major factor in deciding his future, despite the responsibility of raising not only his own two children, but also being the legal guardian of brothers Geejay and Hans.
Money isn’t the main driver for Payne Haas.Credit: Sam Mooy
“I just want to win premierships, to be honest,” he said. “I want to win and I love the boys as well. There are so many of my good mates and we’ve been together since I started, so it’d be hard for me to leave and to go to another club and versing them.
“It’s something I can’t see myself doing, but you never know with rugby league, stuff happens. We’ve seen that in the last few months.
“My priority is to stay in Brisbane, I love the boys here, I love the club, I love everyone there … I wouldn’t see the point of me going to market if we can get a deal done with Brisbane.
“That’s been the chat the whole time, my agent has come out and said that and that’s how we all feel. We know where we stand with Broncs, and they know what we want.”
The Broncos backed Haas when he was involved in a series of off-field incidents early in his career. The 25-year-old said he felt indebted to the club for supporting him.
“They’ve stood by me a lot,” he said. “I’ve made lots of mistakes early in my career, which I regret now, but they’re stuck by me, stuck solid.
“They didn’t have to stick solid by me, but they did. The only way I can repay them is to try and get a premiership.”
NSW dominated the Queensland forward pack in the opening Origin game at Suncorp Stadium, prompting coach Billy Slater to call up Corey Horsburgh and Kurt Capewell for the rematch. Haas was expecting a response in Perth.
“Yeah, 100 per cent, all Maroons teams, they always bounce back well and they’ll be looking to tie this series up,” he said. “We have to be on and we know they’re going to be on as well.”
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