Broncos legend Corey Parker has urged the club to immediately sever ties with Payne Haas in an irate response to the request for the prop’s release.
Haas still has two years left on his contract at Red Hill and, with a salary of around $800,000 per season, is among the highest paid players at the club.
However, the Kangaroos and NSW Blues star’s management has been pursuing an upgrade over the past few months, which is estimated to be worth more than $1million per season.
With the Broncos playing hardball and refusing to meet his demands, Haas dropped a bombshell Wednesday night when he wrote to Broncos officials asking for an immediate release.
The request was quickly rejected by Brisbane, who said Haas would see the remainder of his contract while the club continued to discuss an extension with management.
However, Parker, a former club captain, lit the fuse and called on Broncos management to immediately cut ties with Haas.
“This player, although he is a great player, at no time in Broncos history has a player been bigger than the club,” Parker said on fox league Thursday night.
“I would let Payne Haas go now, now. I would let him go.
“There’s an argument that Payne gets what he wants but from a club’s point of view if you have a player inside your four walls who doesn’t want to be there he’s thrown all the toys out of bed, he said ‘nup I want an immediate launch’.
“It’s after five straight wins, if you’re sitting there doing your boots and looking through – and yes he’s a good player and yes he’s going to play well – but that player doesn’t want to be there.
“He is very, very well paid. To me, it shows a real reflection on Payne.
“They hold their integrity to a high standard when it comes to how they’ve looked after him throughout this period, but for now let him go.
“If you don’t want to play for the Broncos, don’t play. It’s just ridiculous after what the club has done for him.
The Broncos have backed Haas amid a series of off-court drama involving the 24-year-old since his debut with the club in 2018.
Parker was in disbelief. Haas was pushing for an upgrade halfway through his current contract after the way he was taken care of by the club.
“When Payne Haas first came to the club he was 18, he was signed for four years after three games and a shoulder reconstruction,” added Parker.
“Never in the history of the club have they done this, signed an average forward on a long-term contract of around $600,000.
“During this time, they have on their own, thanks to their goodwill, improved his agreement. Normally when a club upgrades they want an extension, they didn’t, they just upgraded.
“Since then they’ve helped him through misdemeanors, three or four or five of them, and now he’s at a stage where he’s being paid very well, paid very well. I believe he’s between $750,000 and $800,000.
“He went to the club and asked for an upgrade and an extension, around the $1m mark.”
Shortly after news broke that he had requested a release, the Broncos publicly announced that they would continue dialogue with Haas and his direction regarding the prop’s future at the club.
“Payne Haas is under contract with the Brisbane Broncos until the end of the 2024 NRL season,” a club statement read. “The club will not accept an exit.
“The club remains in discussion with Payne’s management about what the next phase will look like for him at the Broncos.
“This includes an ongoing dialogue about an extension of his current contract.”
Haas has yet to pursue the matter further, but posted on Instagram on Thursday saying he was committed to playing for Brisbane – for now.
“All that matters is we have a game tomorrow night and I’m just focusing on that,” he wrote.
