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Australian Super Rugby side make ‘inquiries’ about Payne Haas – report
By Finn Morton
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.”
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Gotta love a coach who'll throw his players under the bus instead of taking the loss on his chin. No wonder his team lacks confidence with a bellend like him in charge.
Go to commentsI agree re-Barrett, he would be an excellent 6. Vaai he called him the squads Terminator! No use in shutting out other specialist 6s though like Frizell and Finau.
I don't think the Saders want Darry tbh, already have so much locking talent in Strange, Cahill, Hannah, and Barrett, with Gallagher returning after a spell at the Canes.
As for your ideas on SRP, I was thinking more expansion into the islands. Why just a Fijian team? Why not a Samoan and Tongan team as well? I think adding Japan could be cool, since they are in roughly the same timezone so not much jet lag. Only issue is that their seasons are reversed! Same with USA.
I think the best option is to keep to ourselves, with AUS, NZ, SAM, FIJ, and TNG. 5 teams for Australia (Brumbies, Reds, Tahs, Force, Rebels), 5 for NZ (Saders, Canes, Blues, Chiefs, Landers), and 4 for the PIs (Moana Pasifika, Drua, Tongan team, Samoan team).
If we expand into the PIs, we cut off a source of talent and entertainment from the Northern competitions like Top 14, and open a whole new market of people. Increase advertisment in Japan as well, since their in the same timezone, and we could be on track for a very good competition.
Plus, we would get gamedays like in America, one game queued up after another. Makes it a whole lot easier if you can just flick on the telly and BOOM theres the games. No need to plan out when things are, just get your mates around, flick it on in the background and chill with a cold beverage.
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