PVL:
“We have been looking at bringing in salary cap exemptions for players from other countries for some time. It was about bringing in players from America and other nations. It would also apply to players from other sports. And, yes, other sports includes rugby."
“If a Wallaby or an All Black wanted to come over, we’d look at cap exemptions for sure. We have been looking at this for quite a while, and it’s a good time to revisit this. It’s something I’d like to see come in and come in now.”
Mehri (Payne's agent):
“The only concrete approach we have had recently is from the NFL,” he said. “If he [Haas] was driven by money he would have taken that offer up. People try and say money is his focus. He’d be in America if he was. Payne was sounded out about eight weeks ago, but the timing was not right with a lot going on. I won’t rule that out in the future, but it’s not for now. He is really enjoying his rugby league and not worrying about anything else in a signing sense right now.”
“We’ve had a preliminary chat with the Broncos, that’s it. We have a long time to run on his deal, which runs until the end of the 2024 season. I’m not in a hurry.“
“No one has contacted me from a national rugby perspective. I’ve not heard a word from Rugby Australia. I’ve heard from rugby overseas at a national level and from a club level, but that’s it. As the NRL’s best forward, Haas will have no shortage of options in any code."
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan:
“League need to chill. As rugby union is very pro-player, I was just checking in on Joey after all of the flak he was copping from the NRL. The good news is that he’s in great form and doing well.”
“It’s a bit laughable how some angry league commentators have sledged rugby when they’ve previously benefited from and enjoyed Rugby World Cups and Wallaby tours. Selective amnesia I would say, and a bit hypocritical, but we know they had a good time. A very good time.”
