Gus warns club willing to make Haas NRL’s top earner

“He’s a front rower, I don’t know how many clubs have won premierships with the front rower as the highest paid player in the club,” Gould said on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus podcast.

Currently, Newcastle Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga is believed to be the highest paid player in the competition, on $1.4 million-a-season.

While stating his reservations around Haas’ pay packet, Gould went on to explain the prop is a once-in-a-generation player. 

“I can understand one of the lower teams in the competition making him the highest paid player in the game, no risk, because he can turn your club around and change a club,” he said.

Haas tipped as rugby smash hit

“They’re a fairly rare commodity, I haven’t seen anything like him in my time.

“The best front rowers that I’ve ever seen in my time could all play long minutes and had high work rates but I’ve seen nothing like this.

“He’s still only 23 years of age so he’s certainly got the best of his career in front of him and he would be a very valuable acquisition for a team looking to rebuild their club and to build a team around him to get them out of the cellar and up into the top tier.

Gus anoints a potential GOAT

“He would make the difference for a lot of those top teams, maybe between challenging for a title and not winning a title but I still think your success comes in the playmakers in your team which is your 7, 6 and 1 – they’re very valuable at the moment.

“Everyone needs a big forward, I can see him earning in the million dollar category in a top side but he can’t do it alone, he will need playmakers to do it.”

Since debuting at the Broncos in 2018, Haas has won the club’s Paul Morgan Medal for player of the year four years in a row.

Sitting on 97-games, Haas will almost certainly reach the century milestone this season and play finals for the first time since 2019.

Gould explained while Haas has been integral to the Broncos change in fortunes, much of it has come from the inclusions of Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh in the spine. 

“For me the Broncos have always had the benefit of him, but they’ve improved immeasurably since Adam Reynolds went there and the acquisition of the young fullback Reece Walsh,” he said.

“Certainly Payne Haas inspires the platform that their forwards deal off, he’s a wonderful player and I would have no problem with a team at the bottom end of the table or even looking to get out of that bottom eight into the top eight, making him the highest paid player in the game because he will turn your club around, but he won’t guarantee a premiership.

“If you’re going to buy him to win a premiership then you have to mitigate that with the other players in your club that you’re going to need to accumulate the points and direct your team around the park.”

Stream the NRL premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now

Reports have emerged previously of the Bulldogs interest in Haas, however coach Cameron Ciraldo stated “it’s not something we’ve spoken about” when asked two weeks ago.

Gould further poured cold water on the rumours by replying “I don’t know if he’s ever been to Belmore” when asked if he’d been there.

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here! 

The Mole’s round 21 team of the week: ‘Remarkable’ addition puts Broncos top eight demons to bed