Brisbane Coach Downplays Rift Rumours Amidst Haas’s Impending Souths Move
Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire has firmly addressed speculation of any discord with star player Payne Haas, asserting that their relationship remains strong and focused on a shared pursuit of premiership glory before Haas’s departure at the end of the season. The Broncos mentor, currently in England for the World Club Challenge, dismissed claims of a falling out, emphasising his commitment to enjoying the remaining time with the talented forward.
Haas, a key figure for the Broncos and a NSW representative, recently signed a three-year contract with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, a move that will see him relocate to Redfern next year. This decision has inevitably fuelled rumours that the Broncos’ contract offer was insufficient, effectively pushing Haas towards the exit.
However, Haas himself has publicly refuted these suggestions, clarifying that his move to Souths was a deeply personal decision driven by family considerations, rather than any friction with Maguire.
“I don’t get caught up in the noise,” Maguire stated when questioned by media, including the Sydney Morning Herald. “People are always going to have their opinions, but we know where we sit. I’m very fortunate to coach someone like Payneo, and I’m sure to enjoy every moment we have together this season.”
Maguire elaborated on the motivations behind Haas’s decision, highlighting the complex personal circumstances that have influenced his career path. “It’s very much around his family. I have a great relationship with Payne, and we all live a different life and circumstance. Payne felt at the time he wanted some more support around him with his family, and that’s ultimately what he spoke to me about.”
The unique family situation of Payne Haas, who serves as the legal guardian for his two younger brothers due to his parents’ incarceration, has been a significant factor. His move to South Sydney is reportedly aimed at facilitating closer proximity to his extended family and support network in Sydney, including his manager, Ahmad Merhi.
While Maguire acknowledged the initial shock of Haas’s departure, he expressed full respect for the star front-rower’s rationale. “Yeah, it did. You never want those sorts of things to happen,” he admitted when asked about his initial reaction. “But everyone’s moving through a period of what’s right for where they are at. Payne has definitely spoken to me about his family and the various reasons, so I will leave it to him to discuss those. For us, we are going to enjoy the time [we have left].”
The Broncos coach stressed a philosophy of living in the present, particularly concerning Haas’s final season with the club. “We’re definitely living in the now, but it’s always tough when you learn one of your players is leaving – especially with Payne’s ability. For us, we’re going to enjoy the next nine months with him because that’s what we’ve got. In our game, people retire and move for all their own reasons. For what we have at the moment, we’ve got Payne, who I am fortunate to have had some incredible times with through Origin and last year with the premiership. He’s focused on having one hell of a year with his teammates, who he has been with for a long time. That’s where we are at.”
Despite the impending loss of a marquee player in the middle of the park, Maguire remains optimistic about the Broncos’ sustained competitiveness and the club’s ability to identify or nurture a successor. He pointed to the strong club culture at Brisbane as a key factor in attracting and developing talent.
“We have players within,” Maguire stated. “People look at the Broncs and it’s a pretty special club. That will sort itself out, whether we look outside or inside. I think we’ve got some good young ones coming through. You look at the ability of the guys we’ve got with Payne now – Xavier [Willison], Patty [Carrigan], Aublix [Tawha] is coming in, [and] Corey Jensen. We’ve got people who are going to enjoy this year.”
The Broncos are set to compete in the World Club Challenge on Friday, with the match kicking off at 6:30 am AEDT.
