Australian Super Rugby side make ‘inquiries’ about Payne Haas – report

Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas could complete a sensational code switch after an Australian Super Rugby side made “preliminary inquiries” about securing the services of the State of Origin forward.

According to The Courier Mail, the Western Force has entered the race to sign the in-demand New South Wales and Australian rugby league representative.

Haas, 23, comes off contract with the Broncos at the end of next year’s NRL season, but is free to negotiate with rival clubs or codes from the first of November.

The Broncos appeared set to re-sign the three-time Dally M Prop of the Year – according to The Courier Mail.

But the same publication backflipped on that narrative a few days later. According to the Queensland-based media outlet, Haas was "set to reject a four-year contract offer worth $1.1 million per season."

That news sent the NRL rumour mill into a frenzy.

“Another rugby league club is not the risk for Payne Haas,” dual international Mat Rogers said on SEN last week. “It’s rugby union. That’s a risk.

“He’s not gonna go to Sydney for an extra 150 grand. Melbourne aren’t going to pay over a million dollars for a front rower.

“Rugby union is the one that’s coming.”

The Force would reportedly need financial support from Rugby Australia in order to sign the destructive forward.

But the risk, if you want to call it that, appears to be more than worth it. There’s no denying that Haas would be an absolute weapon in rugby union.

“There is genuine interest from rugby union for Payne Haas,” rugby league reporter Phil Rothfield said on NRL 360.

“Western Force have contacted Hamish McLennan and said, ‘Look we want to have a crack,’ and they have had a crack.

“It’ll be interesting to watch it play out and it’s another reason why Payne has put everything on hold until November so before he makes a decision on the Broncos he can check what the rugby money is.”