Haas rumblings to intensify after Broncos’ defeat… and the dark ‘cloud’ they’ll have to deal with

It’s been an undesirable start to the Broncos’ premiership defence and it could lead to questions around Payne Haas’ impending exit to intensify.

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Brisbane were kept scoreless in a humbling 26-0 loss to the Panthers on Friday night. It’s their second straight loss after going down to Hull KR in the World Club Challenge a fortnight ago.

In addition to the WCC defeat, the news of Haas leaving the club in free agency has resulted in a less than ideal pre-season which has now carried into the season proper.

There have been rumblings that Haas decided to sign with Souths from 2027 because of displeasure at the Broncos, and whether fairly or unfairly, if Brisbane perform poorly, it’ll be noise that won’t go away.

“A lot is going to be said whether you agree with it or not about him and his move to Souths and whether that impacts on this performance and even the next few weeks, and months,” Anasta said.

“That’s a cloud that the Broncos will have to deal with all year,” former Brisbane coach Kevin Walters added.

Haas was solid without being spectacular against Penrith, running for 114 metres and making 38 tackles.

“I thought he was one of Brisbane’s better forwards,” Walters said before Anasta interjected.

“I don’t necessarily mean him though. I mean the noise is going to more be around the group because he’s always going to turn up and give his all,” he said.

“Subconsciously, does it have an impact (on the rest of the group)? I’m not sure.”

Fox League’s Michael Ennis says it’s a distraction the Broncos don’t need and simply didn’t have during their premiership run last year.

“When someone of the magnitude of Payne Haas, who after winning a comp only months later turns around and says I’m leaving … it’s noise that wasn’t there last year,” Ennis said.

“Payne is the ultimate pro and if he’s not ten out of ten every week, he’s 9.5 but after nights like tonight and if things don’t always go to plan for Brisbane this year, there’s just that distraction and those questions around why Payne has left and whether it has had an effect on a group.”