League icon Andrew Johns has lauded Brisbane’s plan to lock away Payne Haas on an unprecedented deal.
On Tuesday, journalist Ben Dobbin told Triple M’s The Rush Hour that Haas was negotiating a new, multi-year contract worth more than a million dollars a season with a three-year extension.
If true, the deal would make Haas the highest-paid player in the club’s history.
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While the money is eyewatering to most, Johns believes the Broncos are the winners in the big new deal.
“Bargain,” Johns told Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and The Eighth.
“Absolute bargain.”
New South Wales coach Brad Fittler added, “There are not that many front-rowers that are worth a million dollars but he would be”.
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Standing at 194cm and 117kg, Johns likened the 23-year-old Haas to legendary enforcer Glenn Lazarus.
Johns also described just how highly the club rate the physical capabilities of the hulking prop.
“I’ve got a mate I played with at Warrington, Lee Briers, he was a really good top-line halfback and he’s there on the coaching staff [at the Broncos],” Johns said.
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“He said, ‘I knew Payne Haas was a genetic freak but I’ve never ever seen anything like it’.
“He wins everything at training. [He] wins the beep test, the yo-yo test.
“For a big man, his repeat speed and his efforts [are very impressive].”
Averaging 58 minutes played and 13 offloads per game after the first five rounds, Blues Origin coach Fittler was equally amazed.
“He’s gotten better,” Fittler said.
“He seems to have now just gone to another level.”
The Broncos host the Raiders on Saturday night.
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