The Brisbane Broncos have reportedly tabled a whopping $3.5 million offer to Payne Haas in an attempt to keep the star front-rower at the club amid outside interest from the rugby union rebel competition known as R360.
One of the best props to ever grace the field, Haas has won multiple Paul Morgan medals (Broncos Player of the Year), claimed numerous Dally M Prop of the Year awards, was named the 2019 Dally M Rookie of the Year, played in a Grand Final and has represented both Australia and the NSW Blues.
In the prime of his career, he is set to become one of the biggest free agents in NRL history as he runs off-contract at the end of the 2026 NRL season and is free to negotiate and speak with rival teams from November 1.
Already one of the highest-paid forwards in the game, his next deal could potentially see him become the competition's most-paid player, moving ahead of Kalyn Ponga and Nathan Cleary.
Less than three days before he plays in the 2025 NRL Grand Final, The Courier-Mail reports that Haas has been formally tabled an offer from the Broncos worth around $3.5 million ($1.2 million a season) as they attempt to lock him down for another three seasons until the end of 2029.
“Honestly at this stage, we aren't going down that road (R360). I don't know exactly what is happening with R360,” his manager Ahmad Merhi told the publication.
“Our main focus right now is doing a new deal with the Broncos.
“I hope Payne wins a premiership on Sunday night and after that we will look to sort his future out.
“Payne is a Bronco, I can't ever see him playing for another club.”
This comes as he has found himself on the radar of multiple Sydney-based clubs and the rebel rugby union competition known as R360, with reports suggesting last month that he could be offered $2.2 million a season from them.
It is understood that the Manly Sea Eagles expressed interest in signing him earlier this year, should he remain on the open market come November 1.
“He has a motor that God only handed out to one or two of them, and he didn't give one to me," four-time premiership-winner and icon of the Broncos, Shane Webcke, told The Courier-Mail.
“He is an astounding footballer, astounding. I am in awe of him and what he does.
“You talk about Petero and myself and other blokes ... we didn't play like Payne Haas.
“The game was different, yes, but we couldn't do what he does. He is a freak. He really is.”
