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HOW THE BULLDOGS BOTCHED HAAS DEAL
It was Des Hasler’s audacious recruitment raid involving Broncos superstar Payne Haas that has proved a $1 million Bulldogs bungle.
Sport Confidential can today lift the lid on a six-year secret – the day incoming Titans coach Hasler, then in charge at the Bulldogs, agreed terms to bring Haas to Belmore.
Incredibly, Haas was ready to defect to the Bulldogs for just $100,000-a-season, with Hasler flying to Brisbane in the latter stages of the 2017 season to complete a stunning poaching raid on the Broncos.
Even more remarkably, the deal sensationally collapsed within days after an internal spat between Hasler and Canterbury’s recruitment-and-retention committee.
A huge fan of the Broncos rookie, who was 17 at the time and yet to play first grade, Hasler held talks with the Haas family and, believing he had his man, returned to Belmore to advise Bulldogs hierarchy of his coup.
Des Hasler almost lured Haas to the Canterbury Bulldogs. Picture: Gregg Porteous
But Canterbury’s recruitment-and-retention committee refused to rubberstamp the deal, blocking the Haas contract as Hasler’s power at Belmore began to decline.
It is understood Hasler contacted Haas to inform him the deal was off. Within weeks, Hasler was sacked by Canterbury hierarchy, officially ending any hope of the Bulldogs securing the most talented young prop in the code.
A Flourish bar chart race
The Broncos then moved to stave off another poaching attempt, with then Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett helping broker a mega six-year extension for the 18-year-old worth $3.4 million.
The Sliding Doors moment has proved costly for the Bulldogs.
With Haas to test his value on the open market from November 1, Canterbury have been linked with the NSW Origin enforcer and now face paying at least $1.1 million a season to prise him from the Broncos.
Payne Haas was almost a Bulldog. Picture: Getty Images
Sport Confidential contacted former Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib about the Hasler-Haas saga. Dib, who was sacked in 2018 after an eight-year tenure, could not recall if Canterbury bosses blocked Hasler’s Haas heist.
“It may have been when ‘Crusher’ (Noel) Cleal was there (in recruitment), the name (Payne Haas) doesn’t ring a bell,” Dib said.
“It could have been right.
“I’m not saying 100 per cent we weren’t interested, but I can’t remember for certain.
“I wish we did get him. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.”
Former Broncos football boss Ben Ikin, who left Brisbane in May, hopes Haas stays loyal to the club in the face of fresh interest from the Melbourne Storm.
“Payne sets himself some pretty big goals,” Ikin said.
“He is very driven, he is very ambitious, he is very deliberate and if he has some other goal on his mind, then he will go after it.
“I would say as someone who would love to see him stay at the Broncos, I hope that goal in the back of his mind is that he is going to go after premierships with Brisbane.
“I don’t know what other clubs can afford.
“You have to speak to Payne about what his key drivers are at the moment.
“I can’t answer on his behalf, but if it’s money, there might be some massive offers out there that are bigger than he will get from the Broncos.”
It was Des Hasler’s audacious recruitment raid involving Broncos superstar Payne Haas that has proved a $1 million Bulldogs bungle.
Sport Confidential can today lift the lid on a six-year secret – the day incoming Titans coach Hasler, then in charge at the Bulldogs, agreed terms to bring Haas to Belmore.
Incredibly, Haas was ready to defect to the Bulldogs for just $100,000-a-season, with Hasler flying to Brisbane in the latter stages of the 2017 season to complete a stunning poaching raid on the Broncos.
Even more remarkably, the deal sensationally collapsed within days after an internal spat between Hasler and Canterbury’s recruitment-and-retention committee.
A huge fan of the Broncos rookie, who was 17 at the time and yet to play first grade, Hasler held talks with the Haas family and, believing he had his man, returned to Belmore to advise Bulldogs hierarchy of his coup.
Des Hasler almost lured Haas to the Canterbury Bulldogs. Picture: Gregg Porteous
But Canterbury’s recruitment-and-retention committee refused to rubberstamp the deal, blocking the Haas contract as Hasler’s power at Belmore began to decline.
It is understood Hasler contacted Haas to inform him the deal was off. Within weeks, Hasler was sacked by Canterbury hierarchy, officially ending any hope of the Bulldogs securing the most talented young prop in the code.
A Flourish bar chart raceThe Broncos then moved to stave off another poaching attempt, with then Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett helping broker a mega six-year extension for the 18-year-old worth $3.4 million.
The Sliding Doors moment has proved costly for the Bulldogs.
With Haas to test his value on the open market from November 1, Canterbury have been linked with the NSW Origin enforcer and now face paying at least $1.1 million a season to prise him from the Broncos.
Payne Haas was almost a Bulldog. Picture: Getty Images
Sport Confidential contacted former Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib about the Hasler-Haas saga. Dib, who was sacked in 2018 after an eight-year tenure, could not recall if Canterbury bosses blocked Hasler’s Haas heist.
“It may have been when ‘Crusher’ (Noel) Cleal was there (in recruitment), the name (Payne Haas) doesn’t ring a bell,” Dib said.
“It could have been right.
“I’m not saying 100 per cent we weren’t interested, but I can’t remember for certain.
“I wish we did get him. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.”
Former Broncos football boss Ben Ikin, who left Brisbane in May, hopes Haas stays loyal to the club in the face of fresh interest from the Melbourne Storm.
“Payne sets himself some pretty big goals,” Ikin said.
“He is very driven, he is very ambitious, he is very deliberate and if he has some other goal on his mind, then he will go after it.
“I would say as someone who would love to see him stay at the Broncos, I hope that goal in the back of his mind is that he is going to go after premierships with Brisbane.
“I don’t know what other clubs can afford.
“You have to speak to Payne about what his key drivers are at the moment.
“I can’t answer on his behalf, but if it’s money, there might be some massive offers out there that are bigger than he will get from the Broncos.”
