Payne Haas says Wayne Bennett and family reasons were behind his decision to join South Sydney and refuted suggestions he has fallen out with Brisbane coach Michael Maguire.
The 26-year-old prop spoke publicly for the first time on Wednesday about why he made the decision to link with the Rabbitohs from next year.
The Bennett factor is real and easy to understand.
The master coach gave Haas his debut in 2018 at the Broncos after convincing him not to join Melbourne when the young prop was on the cusp of signing with the Storm.
Bennett then re-signed him on a lucrative six-year deal. It goes a lot deeper than those factors, as Haas explained.
‘My brother (Chase) was quadriplegic. He was disabled and Wayne had a son (Justin) who was disabled, and that’s how we sort of connected,’ Haas said.
‘I feel like our relationship started from that and he’s someone I can trust and lean on.
‘It wouldn’t have been that easy if I didn’t have Wayne there. I would have looked at other options. Wayne gave me my debut as well and we’ve got that sort of connection and relationship already.’
Haas also had family matters that informed his decision, which he said he would keep private.
‘Some things the last couple of weeks before (signing) were happening in my life personally and privately,’ he said.
‘As a partner and a father I had to make that decision pretty quick, and that was to move back down to Sydney and move close to my family.
‘It was definitely hard. There were some sleepless nights before I made that decision, but I’m content with that decision and I had to make the call.’
Haas was integral to the Broncos premiership last year under Maguire but there has been constant chatter behind the scenes that a key reason for leaving was a rift between him and the coach.
‘It’s BS, to be honest. I get along with Madge a lot,’ Haas said.
Haas also said his relationship with Broncos coach Michael Maguire is fine despite rumours of a rift between the pair
‘We won Origin together, won a premiership and there’s no sour taste or nothing like that … no bad blood. We’re on good terms and I’m going to enjoy this last year with him as well.
‘Our ultimate goal is to win a comp and that’s what we’re all striving for here.
‘There’s no sugarcoating it. He was a bit shocked and fair enough, but he understood my decision and he was happy for me. We’ve all moved on.’
Bennett is expected to sign a one-year extension at the Rabbitohs until the end of 2028, which ties in with the deal Haas said he had signed.
‘I’ve got two years there and a one-year player option,’ he said.
Haas also put a line through joining the breakaway R360 rugby union competition in future, which he had been linked to.
‘No, I don’t think so. I feel like they’re all talk,’ he said.
‘There were talks around it, but I didn’t really talk. I had some people involved (in discussions), and they pointed me in the right direction.’
There has been a lot of interest in the religious name Haas gave himself on social media – Hakeem Haas. It was fascinating to hear him explain it.
‘My name in Islam is Hakeem, but I’m still known as Payne to be honest. That’s just what my mates call me, Hakeem,’ he said.
‘In Islam you get given a name and I got given that name from some of the boys and people who I’m close to. That’s what I am known as when I go around the mosque.’
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