“Chest out and chin up”: Payne’s exhilarating journey during the race for the premiership
After agreeing to a contract extension with the Brisbane team that will last until the end of 2026, Payne Haas, who has grown as a player, says he is prepared to help lead the Broncos to the premiership promised land. It has been just over a year since jeers erupted at Suncorp Stadium.
Following the Broncos’ Round 12 victory over the Titans, the Origin star faced intense emotion from fans across the game and a chorus of criticism from those at Brisbane’s rugby league cauldron. The Origin star had sensationally requested a release from his contract midway through the 2022 season.
But now that he had signed a new two-year contract and the Broncos were leading the team to their first championship since 2006, Haas claimed the experience had given him “a good lesson” that had helped him grow and establish himself as possibly the best prop in the league.
Haas thought, “I had always wanted to stay here.” To be honest, I believe that it was a little immature on our end. We completed it in the end, and we all took away some valuable lessons.
“It was probably a good lesson [to learn]. To learn about certain things not to do and what to do… we all learn.
“We got it [the contract] done. I’m happy we’re here now and winning games and it’s good for us.”
Sitting alongside coach Kevin Walters at Friday’s announcement, and paying credit to “the guy on the right” as one of the driving factors behind his new deal, Haas said there was little doubt as to the potential of the Broncos in the coming years and its significance in his decision to sign on.
The decision to remain close to his family was another key factor. Haas has endured a number of highly-publicised incidents with his mother and brother in recent months, with the 23-year-old father shouldering the weight of responsibility both on and off the field.
“It’s been hard, but a lot of people go through much worse and that’s what my mentality is,” Haas said. “I don’t try and dwell on it too much.
