Brisbane prop Payne Haas has rejected suggestions he is money hungry, claiming his contract stand-off with the Broncos is about the length of his deal rather than its value.
Haas, who was on Sunday named in Brad Fittler’s NSW Origin squad, requested an immediate release last Wednesday from his existing contract, which runs until the end of the 2024 NRL season.
The 22-year-old’s future at Red Hill has been clouded since he parted ways with his manager, Chris Orr, who had kicked off talks for a new six-year deal with the Broncos last year.
When the split happened, Brisbane put the negotiations on hold.
Haas’ new management had approached the club asking to restart talks, but opted to take the nuclear option and ask for a release last week.
Haas said the deal, reportedly worth $6 million across five years, was commensurate with his worth but he said his reluctance to commit to the club was because of the length of the contract.
“What’s bothered me the most is that people are saying I’m money hungry,” he told AAP. “If I was, I would’ve left Brisbane ages ago.
“I think it’s a fair deal and it’s the same deal they offered me last year, and the Broncos offered that.
“I didn’t ask for it (the new deal) and I’ve asked for less years. It is what it is, I’ll let the club and my manager do the talking.”
Haas was non-committal when asked if he wanted to stay at Brisbane. He said: “I love Brisbane and the city has taken me in. But at the end of the day I’m basing my decision on what’s best for my daughter.
“I’m trying to set up my daughter (for life) and God willing I will.”
Haas was roundly booed by the Suncorp Stadium crowd when playing in Friday’s 35-25 win over the Gold Coast Titans, his first club game since requesting a release.
In the past, Fittler has indicated he wouldn’t pick players embroiled in contract disputes but Haas has given him assurances that this stand-off would not affect the Blues camp.
“I told him (Fittler) that I wasn’t distracted and I told him I was focused on the job at hand,” he said.
“I think I got more boos than the Titans players … and I understood why it happened with the timing of it all.”
Haas has been named to start at prop for NSW ahead the series opener next Wednesday.