Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues prop Payne Haas inking a new 10-year deal with the Brisbane Broncos is not out of the realms of possibility, according to True Blue Greg Alexander.
Although 21-year-old Haas is not off-contract until 2024, media reports say the club is keen to lock him into a decade-long commitment similar to what the North Queensland Cowboys did with Jason Taumololo (10 years) or Manly Warringah Sea Eagles did with Daly Cherry-Evans (eight years).
Alexander, who has worked with Haas at the Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues Origin camps, told Behind Blue Eyes that 10-year deals could be “risky” and that five-year deals were more appealing.
“It’s a tough one,” Alexander said.
“Ten-year contracts are rare and they are rare for good reasons.”
Players like Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis signed long-term deals only to be forced into medical retirements but Haas has age on his side, having only played 56 NRL games.
“Payne does seem to be the sort of person you would give a 10-year deal to because with Payne it wouldn’t matter what he was getting what he was earning, how long he was signed for, he’d just turn up and put in the same performance and train hard like he does,” Alexander said.
“He also puts teammates ahead of himself. So, if there was a person who could handle a 10-year deal it would be Payne.
“He’s certainly playing like he’s worth a 10-year deal.”
From Haas’ 15 games for the Broncos in 2021, he’s already made 54 tackle-busts, running an average of 170 metres with 16 hit-ups. He’s also made eight off-loads.
