Brisbane Broncos representative star Payne Haas is on the record suggesting he doesn't want to leave Red Hill.
Brisbane is home for Haas. That much is fairly clear.
But money talks, salary cap pressures bite, and with the new Saudi Arabian-backed Rugby 360 competition also reportedly talking to his management, what looked like a possible sure thing - Haas staying in Brisbane - looks less and less like it by the week.
Off-contract at the end of 2026, the Brisbane Broncos still have exclusive negotiating rights for the star until November 1 this year, but then, it'll be open slather.
The Broncos are unable to make any traction on a deal while they are still alive in the competition, and then will have just a matter of weeks to sort things out with Haas.
He is, without doubt, the best prop in the game.
If he gets to November 1, then anyone with the cash and in need of a forward pack leader is going to want to put an offer on the table for the star.
That'll include the Perth Bears who have a blank cheque book, but there are other clubs who could easily turn Haas into the game's highest-paid player.
It's something the Broncos won't be able to do given the other big-money deals they have for players, led by he seven-figure contract for Reece Walsh.
Haas is already on that seven-figure mark, but increasing from the low to mid one million dollar value is unlikely to be in Brisbane's plans.
So, if Haas does decide it's time for a shake-up, where will he land?
We look at all 16 other clubs, as well as the Perth Bears, and rate the chance.
1. Almost certain to not make an offer
Cronulla Sharks
The Sharks salary cap is stretched, whether fans of the club want to admit it or not.
Addin Fonua-Blake and Nicho Hynes are both on a rumoured seven figures, Jayden Brailey has just signed a long-term upgrades, and many of their other players are not bargain basement buys.
Haas would consider Cronulla purely from a success point of view, but the Sharks simply don't have anywhere near the capital to get the job done.
New Zealand Warriors
The shortest entry of any club.
The Warriors have Mitch Barnett and James Fisher-Harris contracted into 2027, soaking up about $1.7 million of their salary cap.
Case closed.
Penrith Panthers
The Panthers' priority in the next little bit is going to be to get a new deal over the line for representative star in the making Lindsay Smith.
Like Haas, he is currently due to be off-contract at the end of 2026.
With any deal for Smith to cost the Panthers a pretty penny, and adding that to contracts for Isaah Yeo, Brian To'o, Liam Martin, Dylan Edwards and Nathan Cleary that run into 2027, the men from the foot of the mountains will need to look for cheaper options if they want re-enforcements in the middle.
