NRL social media was sent into a frenzy after news broke that Payne Haas had requested an immediate release from his Broncos contract.

Arguably the best middle forward in the game, and undisputedly in the top few, Haas has already been linked to every professional sports team in the country and beyond.

Although the Broncos have reportedly denied the request, we all know that means very little in the modern day.

Here are five potential landing spots for the man sure to be the most in-demand player in the sport, should the Broncos eventually allow the release to happen.

3. Cronulla Sharks

The Sharks are building nicely in the Shire. They added two middle forwards and a halfback heading into 2022 but probably look a big prop short of a genuine title tilt.

Payne Haas is the literal first player who comes to mind if you ask me who fills that role in the black, white and blue.

There are conflicting reports about the salary cap position of the Sharks moving forward.

Wade Graham has been linked with a move to the Super League while Andrew Fifita is in the year last of a monster deal. That leads me to believe there is some money there.

They're yet to really strike in terms of recruitment for next year but they have re-signed a host of players in the past 18 months.

With plenty of players still off-contract, perhaps the Sharks hold off on negotiations given the news of Haas and his potential availability.

Haas makes the Sharks title contenders right away. Only Cameron Munster would provide a quicker route to that next step.

If the Sharks have any of that potential Fifita and Graham money available, the Sharks simply have to be in this race. Surely they will be right there or there abouts.

1 COMMENT

  1. After long-term deals with Andrew Fifita and Josh Dugan ($850K apiece) both of which delivered limited on-field value, Cronulla will be still smarting. In addition, they are probably intelligent enough to see that Payne Haas will have a negative impact on the culture they are trying to build.

    He’s big and greedy. He’s already told the Broncs that he is bigger than club. He’s high maintenance. He is not a player any club should want to sign.

    The Sharks are not desperate enough to need to buy him. The Titans and Warriors may be desperate, but I can’t see Payne being prepared to give up all his friends and contacts to go to Aukland to play for a struggling side.

    I think he will stay near Brisbane and thus end up at the Titans or the Dolphins, next season.

    If the Broncs agree to his request and kick him out now then he will earn nothing or not much for the rest of this season. So, if he is on $850K he will lose nearly $300K (for Jun/Jul/Aug/Sep).

    Sitting out the rest of the season might bring him back to earth with a bump, when he realises what his actions have cost his hip pocket.

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