The Broncos are gearing up to offer Payne Haas a monster extension to keep him in Brisbane amid the new Perth franchise’s reported interest in the star prop.
Last week, the ARL commission agreed in principle to the Western Australian government’s revised offer for an NRL franchise to be based in Perth.
While nothing has been made official, the ‘Perth Bears’ will likely enter the competition in 2027.
Haas is under contract with the Broncos until the end of 2026, meaning he is available for 2027. It also means that he can negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 of this year.
SMH reporter Michael Chammas said on Monday night that the Broncos don’t want Haas to get to November 1 without a new deal, revealing the club are “aware” of interest in Haas from the new Western Australia-based team.
“I was speaking to people in Brisbane today, they’re aware of this, they’ve had conversations internally and they’re going to move to try and make sure Payne Haas isn’t a free agent by November 1,” Chammas said on 100% Footy.
“There will be a phone call in the next week or two, they want to sit down with Payne Haas and extend his deal, make him the richest forward in the history of the game.”
Haas is already earning $1.1 million a season, but given his stellar form in 2025 and how he’s stamped himself as the game’s best prop, there will be clubs willing to pay him much more.
If the new Bears franchise can land Haas, it would be a phenomenal marquee signing to begin a new era of rugby league in the west.
