Brisbane Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy has stated the club won’t sit back and watch as Payne Haas reportedly mulls over an offer from R360.
While no one from Haas’ camp has publicly spoken in regards to a deal, much like R360, a News Corp article revealed he was on the verge of a shock move.
When first asked about Haas on 4BC’s Wide World of Sports Radio, Donaghy didn’t sound overly convinced by the modelling of the rebel competition.
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“There’s been a lot written about R360 in rugby league circles in Australia but a quick google search will show you that not a lot has been written outside of that,” he said.
“I think all of us are waiting to see if it’s actually a starter or not. These things will play out in time.”
Payne Haas. Getty
The report suggests Haas could earn $3 million a season with tax incentives, which would be double what he can make in the NRL.
With the competition set to be played in multiple locations over the world, it’s likely Haas would have to relocate away from Australia too.
Donaghy was careful but defiant about trying to hold on to the star prop.
“We’ve been pretty clear publicly and privately that we want Payne, we’ll be doing everything we can to keep Payne at the Broncos,” he said.
“We’d love for him to play his whole career there, sometimes that works out, sometimes it doesn’t. He’s always got a home here at the Broncos and we’d love to see that continue.
“We certainly won’t sit back and wait to get picked off. There’s many competitors across the league for talent, you’ve got to ensure you provide the right environment for the players to do so and we’ll keep backing our systems and people to keep the players together and keep the program together. It’s been an interesting talking point.”
If Haas does stay at the Broncos, he could be working alongside one of the greatest to ever play the game in Cameron Smith.
Cameron Smith in Maroons camp. Emily Barker via Getty Images
Smith has been linked with a consultancy role with the Broncos, although nothing official has been confirmed yet.
Donaghy described Smith as one of the sharpest minds in the game, having previously worked together at Melbourne.
“If the opportunity is there to work again with Cameron, it’s something that we’d be silly not to do and he’s got a lot to offer the game,” he said.
“For us, there’s some things we’re working through but it would be great if the opportunity does eventuate to bring Cameron Smith on board.”
