Darren Lockyer exposes Payne Haas ‘risk’ after Broncos legend’s 10-year offer admission

Brisbane director Darren Lockyer says it would be “crazy” for the club to offer Payne Haas a new 10-year deal after responding to comments from fellow Broncos great Corey Parker. The 25-year-old Haas has been one of the standout players in the NRL this season and has already been singled out by Manly CEO Tony Mestrov as the type of forward the Sea Eagles want to target when Daly Cherry-Evans departs and they free up salary cap space.

Haas’ current $1.1 million per season deal runs until the end of the 2026 season but the prop will be free to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 if he hasn’t signed an extension with Brisbane before then. If that’s the case, a host of other clubs would be likely to join Manly in declaring their interest in the rep star, leading Parker to claim this week that Brisbane should offer Haas massive new 10-year deal to lock him down.

“Payne can talk as of November 1 and if he goes on the open market, his value goes to record levels,” Parker said. “The Brisbane Broncos should consider a 10-year contract. How much does he need to stay at Brisbane? What’s his worth is the question. The Broncos have Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni still off-contract and then there’s Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan, Ezra Mam already on big money… the list goes on.”

Darren Lockyer says 10-year Payne Haas deal is too risky

However, Broncos director Lockyer has hosed down such suggestions and said the 10-year deal the Cowboys offered Jason Taumalolo highlighted the “risk” associated with such a long contract and the injuries that often come later in their career. Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ QLDER program, Lockyer says he and Maroons legend Wally Lewis agree that while Haas might be worth it, the length of the contract would be too problematic for a forward putting his body through the rigours and punishment of NRL footy, week-in, week-out.

“Look, it’s nothing against the individual,” Lockyer said. “We both (Lockyer and Lewis) know that both Jason (Taumalolo) and Payne are extremely great players. Payne’s obviously a bit younger, but there’s just too much risk involved with a long deal like that, in particular with a forward.

“Payne, early on, every week he played. The last year or two he’s probably picking up a few niggling injuries. So again, it’s nothing against the talent, it’s just more around the risk versus the reward and I just think that 10 years is crazy.” Lockyer’s comments come after Haas underwent surgery on an ankle issue in January that left him in doubt for the start of the season. The 25-year-old was ultimately able to recover in time.

Jason Taumalolo’s huge deal highlights risk of long contracts

Taumalolo’s situation at the Cowboys has given Lockyer and other clubs plenty of reasons to be cautious about long-term deals, with the former Dally M Medallist’s playing minutes dwindling in recent seasons. Taumalolo was the most destructive forward in the competition when North Queensland locked him down with a $10 million, 10-year deal in 2018, but persistent injuries and a massive dip in form in recent years has exposed the pitfalls around his contract.

While Lockyer says the Broncos don’t want to make the same mistake with Haas, Brisbane’s coach Michael Maguire has made it clear that the club is desperate to keep hold of their five-time player-of-the-year. “I would love to keep Payne,” Maguire told News Corp this week. “I won’t talk about contracts, but what I will say is that Payne is a Broncos man.

“He is passionate about the club and his passion towards the club is great to be around. One thing you notice is that Payne is very passionate about what he wants to achieve with his teammates at the Broncos. That definitely comes out in everything I have seen.”