{"id":83917,"date":"2026-08-31T06:28:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T06:28:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/83917\/"},"modified":"2026-08-31T06:28:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T06:28:16","slug":"brisbane-broncos-leave-door-slightly-ajar-for-possible-payne-haas-return-ahead-of-south-sydney-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/83917\/","title":{"rendered":"Brisbane Broncos leave door slightly ajar for possible Payne Haas return ahead of South Sydney move"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brisbane<\/a> boss Dave Donaghy has declared the door will remain open for Payne Haas to one day return to the Broncos, as the world\u2019s best front-rower prepares to leave for South Sydney<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Donaghy fronted an impromptu press conference at Broncos headquarters on Monday, and again admitted the club erred in the handling of Adam Reynolds\u2019 farewell<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He also insisted he wants under-fire coach Michael Maguire to stay on at Brisbane, and backed his staff to turn the club around after a horror NRL title defence.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

But the Broncos chief executive was most expansive in his comments around Haas, who shocked Brisbane and the NRL by signing with Souths<\/a> for three years in February.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe door\u2019s always open to Payne,\u201d Donaghy said, ahead of Thursday\u2019s final-round clash with Canterbury.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been a wonderful, magnificent servant for the football club for a long period of time.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s won six Paul Morgan Medals. As Madge (Maguire) said, I think at some point he\u2019ll probably come down as an immortal.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been an amazing contributor to our football club, hopefully one day we might see him back in Broncos colours.\u201d<\/p>\n

If Haas ever becomes a free agent at Souths, he will likely attract significant interest with the PNG Chiefs among those to try and approach him this year.<\/p>\n

\"PaynePayne Haas is leaving Brisbane, but the Broncos hope it isn\u2019t forever. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

Asked about the prospect of one day returning to the Broncos, Haas would not be drawn into the conversation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t tell the future, I\u2019m just trying to be present,\u201d the front-rower responded.<\/p>\n

Haas did not want to go over old ground on his reasons for leaving Brisbane, and said he had not spoken with the Broncos for their wide-ranging review.<\/p>\n

The prop also said he did not yet know if hand surgery would stop him playing for Samoa in the upcoming World Cup, but hoped he could assist the team regardless.<\/p>\n

The 26-year-old labelled a Round 1 win over North Queensland in 2020 and last year\u2019s grand final success as his two biggest Broncos highlights.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously this club is a very special club and we get looked after, but I think more the connection with the boys (I\u2019ll miss),\u201d Haas said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember coming in a bit raw and got in a bit of trouble the first few years of my career.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it wasn\u2019t for the Broncos, I wouldn\u2019t been the man and especially the footy player I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brisbane\u2019s horror season was encapsulated in the Reynolds debacle last week, with mixed messaging over the retirement-bound skipper\u2019s fitness and ability to play the final two rounds.<\/p>\n

Vision of a lap of honour at Suncorp Stadium last Thursday night was cut off to go to a sponsor activation, after a 45-minute big-screen outage.<\/p>\n

Donaghy took a thinly-veiled swipe at the stadium for the matter on Monday, but also conceded the club should have prioritised the departing players.<\/p>\n

The nightmare end to 2026, which included two wins from the past 15 games, has piled pressure on Maguire as coach.<\/p>\n

But while Donaghy insisted Maguire and his staff would be well prepared for the pre-season, he would not make comment on when the two-time premiership-winning coach would be extended beyond next year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll have those discussions behind closed doors,\u201d Donaghy said.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always said I\u2019d love for Madge to be our long-term coach.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBut with respect to people\u2019s HR confidentiality, I think we\u2019ll keep those between Madge and I.\u201d<\/p>\n

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