Kevin Walters claims Payne Haas ‘will be a Bronco for life’ after rejecting NFL offer

Kevin Walters has no issue with Payne Haas testing his value on the NRL market, adamant the star Brisbane prop will still choose to remain at Red Hill.

Haas’s protracted contract talks will drag on after the 23-year-old’s manager confirmed he would hit the open market on November 1.

It comes after Haas sought a release from the Broncos last season because the NSW prop could not see a competitive future at the club.

But Brisbane, who beat Canterbury 44-24 on Saturday, boast an NRL-best 12 wins from 17 games and are now a genuine shot at breaking a 17-year title drought.

Haas’s manager Ahmad Merhi told AAP that Brisbane were ‘ticking all the boxes’ as every other NRL club had expressed a desire to negotiate with him, while he also fielded interest from European rugby and an NFL franchise.

The Brisbane star (right) will hit the NRL open market on November 1

‘We don’t normally like to talk about contracted players in that space but I’ll say this, I believe he’ll stay at the Broncos,’ Walters said.

‘You don’t have to be Einstein to figure out that everyone would be interested in Payne.

‘We’re comfortable with the position, what Payne’s doing.

‘My thoughts personally are that Payne will be a Bronco for life.

‘We’ve got a great environment here, Payne knows we want him to stay here and he’s aware that he loves being at the place.

‘I’m sure between both parties we can get an agreement where we’re both happy.’

Haas is off contract at the end of 2024, has often spoken of his desire to emulate five-time premiership-winning prop Glenn Lazarus. 

Last year at the Broncos a release was sought by his management because NSW prop Haas could not see a competitive future at the club.

Haas has attracted interest from Rugby Australia, European rugby clubs and the NFL

The 23-year-old wanted to leave the Broncos last year but ended up staying in Red Hill 

‘Payne wants to be in a competitive team and he wants to be competitive week-in and week-out,’ Merhi told AAP.

‘Right now we are definitely going until November 1. Payne’s concerns [last year] were about playing in a team that is performing and achieving the best for his career on the playing field.

‘Brisbane is ticking all the boxes with what they are doing competitively and what they are doing as a group.

‘You can understand where his frustrations were last year. This is the first year in five seasons in the NRL that he will be playing semi-final football.’