Broncos Roster, Signings and Rumours Discussion 2026

If hass does leave. How can the nrl ban him next year when he’s contracted to the broncos and the nrl ?
 
If he does sign, there is also serious doubt as to whether the NRL's ban threat would hold up on court (due to restrain of trade).
That typically only applies to preventing someone from working in the industry, like stopping someone who worked for a plumbing business, working as a plumber for a period of time.

In this instance, the NRL is an organisation, they are not obligated to register anyone's contract. They aren't preventing him from plying his trade in Union or Super League.
 
That typically only applies to preventing someone from working in the industry, like stopping someone who worked for a plumbing business, working as a plumber for a period of time.

In this instance, the NRL is an organisation, they are not obligated to register anyone's contract. They aren't preventing him from plying his trade in Union or Super League.
Interesting., thank you.

Does this still apply given that the NRL have already registered his current contract which is valid until the end of next season? If he does sign with R360, it's likely that it won't kick in until October next year (when the comp is scheduled to start) when his current contract would have ended.

Lawyers and the RLPA would surely get involved if the NRL tried to deregister Payne from playing out his final year.

Hopefully this statement doesn't come back to bite me, but I don't think he'll leave (at least not next year). His agent has a habit of dropping these stories everytime his contract comes up for renewal - which I understand is part of his job.
 
That typically only applies to preventing someone from working in the industry, like stopping someone who worked for a plumbing business, working as a plumber for a period of time.

In this instance, the NRL is an organisation, they are not obligated to register anyone's contract. They aren't preventing him from plying his trade in Union or Super League.
They also have to act reasonably.
If it goes to court they will have to put their reason for the ban.
It can't be because they didn't like it when he left.
If he doesn't break an existing contract he can ply his trade where he wants.
 
They also have to act reasonably.
If it goes to court they will have to put their reason for the ban.
It can't be because they didn't like it when he left.
If he doesn't break an existing contract he can ply his trade where he wants.
This is probably the only weakness of it, however, as with any business, they are more likely to be dragged over the coals for wrongful termination type situations. Refusing to re-hire someone in the future on grounds they violated contracted terms with the NRL previously is likely a different story. Courts don't typically force Businesses to hire people, simply because they've worked for them before.

Banning him now for leaving at the end of his exiting contract is likely to be a fight.

Signing as a free agent though - with no current NRL contract (Paps) is probably the safest way to do it. But still no sure thing they'll walk back in.
 
They also have to act reasonably.
If it goes to court they will have to put their reason for the ban.
It can't be because they didn't like it when he left.
If he doesn't break an existing contract he can ply his trade where he wants.

is this going to get into one of those circular arguments again. no one knows what the hell the courts will do.

hell, even people in the legal profession are split on how the courts would rule. two of my old high school friends are now lawyers (I'm still facebook friends with them). so I thought i'd get their opinions on it. One of them is adamant the "ban" would be a restraint of trade ... while the other is adamant that employment law would be the applicable section for this "ban", so unless someone going to R360 was refused "employment" because of a protected class (race, sexual orientation, gender, disability etc) then the courts would rule in the NRL's favour.

I recall a similar discussion about the no-fault stand down ... then De Belin tested it in court and lost. As i said no one knows what the **** the courts will do
 
Personally I don’t understand how people think the NRL can’t ban players. They need to agree to register contracts. Sure the player signs with a club and is their employee, but the NRL is the overarching body and they can deny membership.

Banning them mid contract is what I don’t think they can do, I.e. if haas signs but wants to play nrl in 2026, I doubt they can stop him as his contract is already registered.
 
If he is confident its going to be a success and he signs a 3 year deal i think it will be a no brainer. In real terms, a 3 year deal with us pays him around 2.2 million after tax, if he moves, he is looking at almost 5 million after tax. Massive difference in earnings and if he is successful he has the potential to earn even more as Union is a much bigger sport with a bigger reach than league.

I get people will use all sorts of justification as to why he shouldnt go, after all, he's a quality player we dont want to lose, but its a lot of money to just turn down. That money can do a lot for his family, especially his siblings. That kind of money could give them a better chance of steering clear of the scummy drama thats followed them around for years.
Don't get me wrong @Wolfie I'm not say he shouldn't go, just that it's not a clear-cut choice. It's a valid option for him, but it takes thought. Yes there's more money, but it's shorter term. Yes again, there's more money, but will the comp even start let alone thrive? Is the additional money worth it when trading off being away from my family? What is best for my brothers and sisters; $3m a year and a semi-absent Payne, or $1.3m a year and a present Payne? What will bring me more fulfillment and joy; playing the game I love, with the people I love (maybe) in front of 50000 adoring fans and competing for premiership glory, or playing a foreign game with a bunch of strangers, in front of who knows how many, for $$$?

Either staying or going are valid choices for Payne, but making that choice requires considerable thought and reflection. It is the exact opposite of a no-brainer.
 
just playing devils advocate, but wasn't that ban just basically the conditions of a release from his existing contract

The NRL and Gallop funded the legal proceedings. They stopped him playing in France and he realised this wasn't as easy as he thought. Then SBW sought a settlement and landed on can't come back for five years and pay the Dogs 800k.

The Dogs were going to see it through, when SBW realised he'd fled to France to sit on the sideline watching he wanted to settle quickly.
 
Don't get me wrong @Wolfie I'm not say he shouldn't go, just that it's not a clear-cut choice. It's a valid option for him, but it takes thought. Yes there's more money, but it's shorter term. Yes again, there's more money, but will the comp even start let alone thrive? Is the additional money worth it when trading off being away from my family? What is best for my brothers and sisters; $3m a year and a semi-absent Payne, or $1.3m a year and a present Payne? What will bring me more fulfillment and joy; playing the game I love, with the people I love (maybe) in front of 50000 adoring fans and competing for premiership glory, or playing a foreign game with a bunch of strangers, in front of who knows how many, for $$$?

Either staying or going are valid choices for Payne, but making that choice requires considerable thought and reflection. It is the exact opposite of a no-brainer.
I have to agree that in the short term the money seems very tempting but the potential pitfalls and life after if the idea fails are pretty precarious.

I haven't a clue as to what the cash difference really is but I'm sure if Payne stayed the club would make sure his third party agreements were prioritized, his family's well-being would be looked after by the club providing a much needed support network, and then when you consider life after footy where the club could offer him a job for life the choice to stay does offer much more stable, hard and fast security.

So when you're dicing with your whole family's financial security you need to consider the pay-off between less money but more financial surety over the long term, against potentially short term gains and all the other pitfalls already mentioned by BHQers.

I hope his own advisers are emphasizing these trade-offs and not just pushing him to take the larger initial wad of cash so they too can profit from a bigger cut of his salary. The cynic in me knows his advisers are going to be leaning heavily into their own self-interests as once Payne finishes with footy their cut dries up so common sense says they're out to make as much bank as possible from his playing days.
 
is this going to get into one of those circular arguments again. no one knows what the hell the courts will do.

hell, even people in the legal profession are split on how the courts would rule. two of my old high school friends are now lawyers (I'm still facebook friends with them). so I thought i'd get their opinions on it. One of them is adamant the "ban" would be a restraint of trade ... while the other is adamant that employment law would be the applicable section for this "ban", so unless someone going to R360 was refused "employment" because of a protected class (race, sexual orientation, gender, disability etc) then the courts would rule in the NRL's favour.

I recall a similar discussion about the no-fault stand down ... then De Belin tested it in court and lost. As i said no one knows what the **** the courts will do
Just opinions here. I work for a lawyer and they seem to think along these lines.
2 different scenarios.
Walking out on a contract and deciding to play elsewhere when you're a free agent are completely different.
Players breaking contracts could/should be held to account as should the manager.
Playing elsewhere, as a free agent, and coming back shouldn't be a problem.
It has precedent with Hayne, Val going to NFL, Lote, Rogers, Dell, Burgess went to Union, and were allowed to come back.
The argument would be between the club who wants to contract the returning player and the NRL.
If the clubs all stand united and agree no one will employ a player who went to R360 nothing can be done but that's unlikely if a Payne Haas wants to come back after 12 months.
If the NRL wants to not register a contract then that's probably not reasonable based on him not breaking a contract.
IMO the whole thing will crash and burn.
 
I can't see Payne ****ing off to live in the Arab Emirates - entirely for tax avoidance - with his parents and brother in prison. He would have to take his baby momma, his two bastard (literally) children, and his two younger brothers.

His unwed with children marital situation isn't illegal as of just recently, but it's still complicated and could be used against him. The Emirates is a **** of a place to fall foul of weirdly strict laws, and like every Muslim country, it's brutal on women. His partner isn't Muslim.

The whole prospect is a massive headache for him.
 
NRL could suspend him for some obscure rule, leaving the Broncos not able to field him or replace his value in the salary cap.
 
NRL could suspend him for some obscure rule, leaving the Broncos not able to field him or replace his value in the salary cap.

No fault stand down policy? He's facing a term of 10 years out of the NRL. All the best holding that up in court though.
 
Haas is really important for the success of this team, unless we being tino as a replacement this will be a huge loss

Did you watch the Kiwi vs Samoa game ?
Willison forces a legs tackle in front of the posts then , with a lightning fast PTB ( that @1910 highlighted when he 1st made grade .) Leads to a try next play .
Tino doesn`t do that .

Although Payne being the machine he is did Payne Haas things that no front rower should be capable of .

Haas > Willison > Tino IMO .
 
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