The manager of Payne Haas wants to send the record straight on why his client left Brisbane for South Sydney.
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Yesterday, Broncos chairman Karl Morris said there was little more the club could’ve done to keep Haas despite rumours that have circulated around Haas’ relationship with Michael Maguire and Brisbane ‘low-balling’ the star prop at the contract table.
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Haas’ agent Ahmad Mehri supported Morris’ comments, while revealing Souths coach Wayne Bennett was the “central driver” behind the decision that shocked the NRL.
“It was never a money decision. No amount of money would have changed the outcome. The principal reason is Wayne Bennett,’ Mehri told Code Sports.
“He’s the central driver, man. Wayne started Payne’s NRL career. Wayne remained a mentor presence throughout Payne’s career.
“His relationship with Wayne has never stopped regardless of the clubs that Wayne’s gone to. He’s always been there for him.
“Brisbane have done nothing wrong. The club has always been professional and accommodating to Payne and his family. The CEO Dave Donaghy has always looked after Payne.
“There’s no bitterness, there’s not a fallout and there’s no blame on Brisbane.”
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Earlier, the Broncos went on the defensive following reports the club ‘low-balled’ Payne Haas before he shocked the NRL by signing with Souths — but it now appears they will let him go without any further fight.
Morris says Haas’ decision “wasn’t about the money”, while also defending coach Michael Maguire amid speculation ‘Madge’ and Haas may not have seen eye-to-eye.
While it was reported that the Broncos would significantly up their offer to Haas within the 10-day cooling off period, which gives the player the ability to change his mind, Nine reporter Danny Weidler posted on Wednesday that South Sydney appeared to have sealed the deal.
Brisbane won’t launch a counter offer, Weidler reported.
In an interview with CODE Sports, Morris says he’s confident Haas and Maguire have a strong relationship and that the star prop’s decision was due to wanting “to prove himself” elsewhere. CODE reported that Brisbane’s offer to Haas could have been as much as $7.8 million over six years, before the Souths bombshell; perhaps surging past $8 million with ratchet clauses as the salary cap rises.
“It wasn’t about the money. Simple as that. It depended on what he wanted. We talked about a number of options but we’re very comfortable with our position,” Morris said.
“At the end of the day, an NRL career can be very short and I can understand if Payne wants to do the best thing for his family.
“I have never heard one issue with Payne and Madge.
“One hundred per cent there is no issue with Madge — I have not heard one whisper of that.
Haas and his Broncos teammates jetted out to England on Monday in readiness for the World Club Challenge.
Given Haas told his teammates on Sunday, Morris admitted he was surprised by the “timing” of it.
“The feedback was that Payne was looking for a change. When anyone has been doing any job for a long period of time, people always wonder is the grass greener somewhere else,” Morris said.
“Of course I was shocked, particularly at the timing, the day before they were leaving for the UK.
“But with these sorts of things, when is it good timing?
“He simply wanted a fresh start and I think it’s the same case for Payne.
“We wish him good luck.”
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