Haas to leave Broncos for Souths in one of game's biggest coups

South Sydney are set to pull off one of the game's biggest recruitment coups after Samoan superstar Payne Haas told the Broncos he intends to leave at the end of the season to join the Rabbitohs.

Haas, widely considered to be the best forward in the game, has signed a three-year deal to reunite with former coach Wayne Bennett at Souths and the Rabbitohs confirmed a contract had been lodged with the NRL.

The signing of Haas would be one of the biggest coups in the 119-year history of the Rabbitohs and one of the biggest by any club in recent seasons.

Perhaps only Canterbury's recruitment of Panthers star Stephen Crichton in 2024 comes close as a recent comparison of a superstar and premiership winner joining a new team after rejecting efforts by his club to retain him.

Cooper Cronk had already announced he was leaving Melbourne to move to Sydney before joining the Roosters in 2018 and leading the club to back-to-back premierships.  

The Broncos issued a statement confirming that Haas and his management had advised the club that he planned to leave at the end of the season, while the Rabbitohs announced he had agreed to a three-year deal.

The contract is now subject to the NRL's 10-day cooling-off period and both clubs said they would not make any further comment until the deal is official.

With the Broncos flying to London on Monday to step up preparations for the February 20 World Club Challenge against Super League champions Hull KR, his future will be finalised in England.

If the deal is confirmed, Haas will play out this season in Brisbane before joining South Sydney for the 2027, 2028 and 2029 seasons.

He would effectively replace Kangaroos forward and NSW team-mate Keaon Koloamatangi, who has signed a five-year deal with the Dragons from 2027. 

Haas was handed his NRL debut by Bennett as an 18-year-old in 2018 and has gone on to play 142 NRL games, as well as 17 Origins and seven Tests.

David Fifita, who has joined the Rabbitohs this season from the Titans, also played at the Broncos under Bennett and is close friends with Haas.

Star back Latrell Mitchell also has a close relationship with Haas through their time together in the NSW State of Origin team.

Haas will be a key player for Samoa at this year's World Cup and was a finalist in the 2025 IRL Golden Boot awards after switching his international allegiance from Australia and leading the Toa to the Pacific Cup final.

His dominance at club level has been recognised with the Paul Morgan Medal as Broncos Player of the Year on six occasions — from 2019 to 2023 and again in 2025 — making him the most decorated winner of the award in Club history. 

During the Broncos 2025 premiership-winning campaign, Haas averaged 166 running metres, 67 post-contact metres and 35 tackles per game at an extraordinary 98 per cent efficiency.

That excellence translates to the representative arena, where Haas was named NSW Blues Player of the Year in 2025 and played a pivotal role in series victories in 2019, 2021 and 2024.

He was also named Dally M Prop of the Year from 2019 to 2023 and again in 2025, while representing both Australia and Samoa on multiple occasions.

The Broncos confirmed Haas's impending departure with a brief statement.

“The Brisbane Broncos can confirm that Payne Haas and his management have advised the Broncos that he intends to depart the Club at the end of the 2026 season,” the statement read.

“A signed contract reflecting that position has been lodged with the NRL and the Broncos will make no further comment on the matter until the expiration of the normal ten-day cooling off period.”

The Rabbitohs also released a statement on Sunday.

“The South Sydney Rabbitohs have lodged a signed contract with the NRL for Payne Haas to join the Club for the 2027, 2028 and 2029 seasons,” the statement said.

“The contract is now subject to the ten-day cooling-off period. The Rabbitohs will be respecting the cooling-off period rules set by the NRL.

“The Rabbitohs will make no further comment regarding this until the ten-day cooling-off period has expired.”