Payne opens up on his turbulent year below and how he has matured into a better person:
- Broncos saved him in his darkest hour.
- looking forward to the birth of his first son in December. "I’m ready for more chaos".
- learned of his father’s arrest just hours before Brisbane’s premiership game against Manly in May. Kev gave him the option to pull out but he refused.
- just used to always having drama in his life.
- Payne is more like father than an older brother, making lunches, taking his siblings to school and paying for their education and daily needs.
- “I don’t want them to see the things that I saw as a kid and be around the certain things I was around".
- "Once upon a time, I wasn’t a good role model to be honest. But you grow up in life and all I care about now is raising good kids with manners and good morals who treat people well".
- is not proud of his rap sheet, but says the birth of his first child changed him.
- the Broncos have given him a lot of chances, but they have been patient and helped him become a better person.
- credits Kev for always believing in him. Will always be grateful to Kev and "everyone at the Broncos who actually cared about me as a person and wanted the best for me".
- “Had they sacked me, I would have copped it on the chin because it was my fault, I was doing the wrong thing by them".
- “They stuck by me and showed faith in some really tough times, so I will always have respect and love for the Broncos".
- “This off-season has been the best thing for me. I just got away from a lot of things".
- His 2 young brothers play as forwards for Brisbane Easts and he hopes they one day play for the Broncos.
An awful lot for a young bloke to cope with when he has his own struggles to deal with and yet still turns up every time on the field, week in week out.
Source:
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-2025-broncos-star-payne-haas-steps-up-to-care-for-his-two-brothers/news-story/faff96b8a7af76669ef03854830105e9&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=ULTRALOW-Segment-2-SCORE