Broncos forward Payne Haas has bid farewell to his partner Leilani Mohenoa and daughter Lalita as he departed Brisbane for the Blues Origin camp, with debate continuing to rage amongst fans and NRL legends on his shock transfer request.
Haas shocked the Broncos and the entire footy world last Wednesday when he requested an immediate release from the club due to contract disputes – something which the club denied.
He’ll need to try and switch off all the noise surrounding his request over the next six weeks, after arriving in Blues camp at Coogee on Monday ahead of Game 1 on June 8.
Haas admitted the criticism has affected him both on and off the field, with the shock transfer request continuing to make headlines as former Broncos greats like Corey Parker, Steve Renouf and Gorden Tallis debate on what should happen to Haas.
Haas travelled to Sydney for Origin camp with Broncos teammate Kotoni Staggs
Broncos fans booed their forward every time he went near the ball during Brisbane’s 35-24 win over Gold Coast, and after the game Haas said it had rattled him a little.
‘It has been tough,’ he said on Channel Nine. ‘Usually I’m not one to get rattled but when I heard the boos tonight it rattled me a bit.
‘I had to compose myself a bit, just stay in the game and do my job for the team.’
Haas was booed by his own fans on Friday night when the Broncos took on the Titans
Tallis backed up the fans assertion Haas was letting the club down on Sunday night, labelling the star forward ‘selfish’.
‘To think that Payne Haas is underpaid at $700,000, $800,000, $900,000 as a 22-year-old kid, there wouldn’t be too many guys in the country, doing what they love and getting paid that much money,’ he said on Fox League’s Sunday Night with Matty Johns.
‘So I think he is well paid, they have already upgraded him once, so it is starting to look a bit selfish from Payne.’
The big body and aggression of Haas will be crucial for NSW in Origin again this year
Renouf, one of Brisbane’s best ever centres, disagreed with Tallis though, saying that Haas’ young age should preclude him from that sort of treatment.
‘I actually feel for Payne because I was at the game and I don’t like anyone getting booed and you know, people have a short memory of what he has done for that club already,’ he said on the show.
‘I mean, he has carried us through the real bad times, and I know there is a thing going on but, I sort of go against what Gordy said, sometimes those players don’t know what is happening with negotiations.
‘Then next thing it comes out in the front page of the paper and unfortunately the players have to wear that, and you have to remember he is still young too,’ said Renouf.
Haas’ partner Leilani Mohenoa with their daughter Lalita as he departed for Blues camp
It reportedly isn’t just about more money for Haas, who is contracted until the end of 2024 on $800,000 a year, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
While his management are seeking an immediate upgrade to $1million a season for 2023 and 2024, and $1.2million for an additional year in 2025, Haas and his management wanted performance clauses inserted into the contract well.
This reportedly would allow him to leave the team if they don’t make the top eight in the first year of the contract, miss the top six in year two, or fail to break into the top four in the third year. When the Broncos declined that, an immediate release was sought.
With Game 1 of State of Origin less than 10 days away, this is a very unwelcome distraction for Haas and NSW, something coach Brad Fittler said was ‘not ideal at all’.
‘I think it’s poor timing not just for the Broncos, but for State of Origin,’ he said on 9 News.
‘Sides are selected this weekend and you don’t want the interruption or distraction of trying to sort out your future while you’re coming into Origin camp.’
Haas on Monday morning at the Crowne Plaza, Coogee
That being said, there was clearly no danger on Haas not being selected in the squad, with Fittler revealing he was confident the talented forward would be able to put his best foot forward throughout the series.
‘He was my first phone call. He means a lot to us, he’s a young kid and things expediated there really quickly,’ Fittler told Nine’s Sports Sunday show.
‘His shoulder was the biggest problem and he says his AC joint is doing well and will be able to get through 10 days of training.’
Haas will hope the transfer saga is behind him come 8.10pm next Wednesday, when the Blues will look to secure back-to-back Origin wins in game 1 at Accor Stadium.
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