Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has broken his silence about the impending departure of Payne Haas to South Sydney, shrugging off suggestions of a fallout and claiming the pair have a “great relationship” that they hope can yield another premiership this season.
Haas’s transfer to the Rabbitohs on a three-year deal at the end of the year is one of the most significant in the NRL, and it caught the league world by surprise. It has sparked a flurry of rumours, most notably that Maguire demands too much from his players and that Haas had had enough.
Not even Haas’ own denials of a rift have been enough to convince some pundits that there isn’t an issue with the coach. But Maguire, speaking from northern England where he and the Broncos are preparing for a World Club Challenge game against Super League Champions Hull KR, said he was taking no notice of the scuttlebutt.
“I don’t get caught up in the noise,” Maguire said in his first interview on the topic. “People are always going to have their opinions, but we know where we sit.
“I’m very fortunate to coach someone like ‘Payne-o’ and I’m sure to enjoy every moment we have together this season.
“It’s very much around his family. I have a great relationship with Payne-o, and we all live a different life and circumstance. Payne felt at the time he wants some more support around him with his family and that’s ultimately what he spoke to me about.”
Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire.Credit: Zak Simmonds
Premiership success aside, Maguire and Haas have also collaborated successfully at State of Origin level, helping NSW take out the 2024 series. However, Haas has a unique family situation given his parents are in jail, and he is the legal guardian of his two younger brothers.
Haas has stated the chance to be closer to many members of his family – and mentors like his Sydney-based manager Ahmad Merdi – were the driving force behind the shock shift.
Still, Maguire said Haas’ Rabbitohs move had taken him by surprise.
“Yeah, it did. You never want those sorts of things to happen,” Maguire said. “But everyone’s moving through a period of what’s right for where they are at. Payne-o has definitely spoken to me about his family and the various reasons, so I will leave it to him to discuss those. For us, we are going to enjoy the time [we have left].
Brisbane’s Payne Haas in action during the 2025 grand final.Credit: Getty Images
“We’re definitely living in the now, but it’s always tough when you learn one of your players is leaving – especially with Payne’s ability.
“For us, we’re going to enjoy the next nine months with him because that’s what we’ve got. In our game, people retire and move for all their own reasons. For what we have at the moment, we’ve got Payne who I am fortunate to have had some incredible times with through Origin and last year with the premiership.
“He’s focused on having one hell of a year with his teammates, who he has been with for a long time. That’s where we are at.”
Even before his Origin and premiership triumphs, Haas was considered the best prop of his generation. Given he is just 26 years old – and front-rowers usually hit their peak in their late 20s – his best football is arguably ahead of him.
Asked where Haas rates among the greatest props of all time, Maguire said: “I think everyone could see where he would rank.
“He wants to achieve with the playing group this year to add to what he’s been doing. He’s up there with one of the best front-rowers to run around. I’ve been fortunate to coach him and be a part of a period with his career.
“We’re doing everything we can to achieve the same ride we did last year.”
The challenge now for Brisbane is to find a replacement for Haas, at a time when there are few options on the open market.
“We have players within,” Maguire said. “People look at the Broncs and it’s a pretty special club.
“That will sort itself out, whether we look outside or inside. I think we’ve got some good young ones coming through. You look at the ability of the guys we’ve got with Payne-o now – Xavier [Willison], Patty [Carrigan], Aublix [Tawha] is coming in, Corey Jensen. We’ve got people who are going to enjoy this year.”
All eyes will also be on Reece Walsh during the World Club Challenge. Dispute his heroics for club and country at the end of last season, Maguire believes the superstar fullback can improve.
“If everyone plays their part, he can keep doing the things he has been doing,” Maguire said. “He’s exciting, everyone loves watching him. If he does his part for his teammates, which he focuses on, his game will keep evolving and keep changing.
“That’s one thing he has within himself, the ability to want to get better and better … there’s no reason why Reece can’t keep evolving.”
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