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.
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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.
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BRONCOS’ $900K HEADACHE AS COBBO MYTH SHATTERED
Selwyn Cobbo has given his biggest indication yet he is willing to depart the Broncos club, putting to bed claims he wouldn’t be willing to depart Queensland.
Cobbo, whose contract expires in 2025, is one of the NRL’s hottest free agents and his value only increased with an impressive performance at fullback in Round 8.
Previously it was believed Queensland clubs were Cobbo’s only potential landing spots, having a close connection to his home town of Cherbourg, 265 kilometres outside Brisbane.
However, speaking to Code Sports after his blistering fullback display, Cobbo put that narrative to bed which could spark an NRL-wide bidding war for his services.
“Cherbourg is not going to run away,” Cobbo said.
“It’s always home. I love going back home when I can. Wherever I go, I can always go back home.”
Cobbo’s could be worth a reported $900,000 on the open market, being able to play at fullback, in the centres and on the wing at an elite level with his current deal being reportedly worth $650,000 per-season.
Meanwhile, the Broncos are facing a mammoth salary cap crunch with superstars Reece Walsh, Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan already having signed mammoth contracts.
Brisbane also recruited Ben Hunt in the off-season, while Adam Reynolds reportedly wants to play on in 2026 and the club had not accounted for his salary in 2026.
Kotoni Staggs is also off-contract, however it’s been widely reported he has agreed to terms on a new contract, which could see Cobbo squeezed out.
When asked if he wanted to remain in Red Hill, Cobbo gave nothing away with a potential one-year contract on the horizon to stay at the Broncos in 2026.
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“For now, I just want to play footy. I will let my manager sort out all that,” he said.
“I will keep putting on the jersey and showing up every week and put a good performance in for the team.”
Cobbo could also be targeted by the Perth Bears and Papua New Guinea who are set to join the NRL in 2027 and 2028, hoping to land marquee recruits for their respective debut seasons.
HASTINGS’ POTENTIAL KNIGHTS EXIT
A report out of England has linked out-of-favour Knights playmaker Jackson Hastings with a move back to the Super League.
The 29-year-old could reportedly return to England’s top flight with the Leeds Rhinos, who are monitoring his situation in the Hunter closely according to Love Rugby League.
Hastings is yet to feature in the NRL this season, with his current contract expiring at the end of the 2025 season.
The halfback looks destined to depart Newcastle, however a potential move to the Rhinos may have to wait until 2026 or be dependent on a potential release for playmaker Matt Frawley.
Rhinos coach Brad Arthur made the decision to axe Frawley in recent weeks and his exile would open up an overseas roster position for Hastings to make the move abroad.
Hastings is earning a reported $800,000 per-season and has previously had success in the Super League, winning the Man of Steel award in 2019.
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