Payne Haas quits Brisbane Broncos to join South Sydney Rabbitohs from 2027 NRL season

Reigning premiers Brisbane have suffered a monumental blow with Payne Haas announcing he will quit the NRL club at the end of 2026.

The superstar forward has opted to join the Rabbitohs on a three-year deal covering 2027-29.

Both clubs confirmed the move in separate statements on Sunday, adding there would be no further comment until the end of a 10-day cooling-off period.

Previous reports had suggested Haas, who was once in the sights of the rebel R360 competition and remained a target for NRL expansion side PNG Chiefs, would sign a one-year contract extension with the Broncos.

But the NSW Origin star is now all set to make the bombshell move to the Rabbitohs to play under his former Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett.

Confirmation of the agreement comes just days out from Brisbane’s World Club Challenge clash with Hull KR in England, ahead of their NRL season opener on March 6.

South Sydney’s coup looms as one of the biggest in rugby league history with Haas, who only just turned 26 years old, at the peak of his powers.

It also marks a major statement after the Rabbitohs’ own star forward Keaon Koloamatangi recently announced he would jump ship to the Dragons at the end of the year.

Haas is close to South Sydney’s 2026 recruit David Fifita, a former Broncos teammate, and the two will give Bennett the on-field impact the side has been lacking in recent seasons.

On the opposite side of the coin, Haas’s exit will be a bitter blow for the Broncos after they emerged from the controversial decision to sack Kevin Walters as coach and appoint Michael Maguire as premiership winners.

Haas was particularly immense in the preliminary final without the suspended Pat Carrigan by his side.

Haas previously requested an immediate release from the Broncos in 2022 when negotiations over an extension broke down.

Just 22 at the time, he denied he was chasing the cash and said the stand-off stemmed from his desire for a shorter contract.

“What’s bothered me the most is that people are saying I’m money hungry,” he told AAP.

“If I was, I would’ve left Brisbane ages ago. I think it’s a fair deal and it’s the same deal they offered me last year, and the Broncos offered that.

“I didn’t ask for it (the new deal) and I’ve asked for less years. It is what it is, I’ll let the club and my manager do the talking.”

He eventually got his way and signed the deal that will conclude this year before his move to the Rabbitohs.

Haas is now on the verge of the second big switch since last year.

With one eye on the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, he changed international ties from Australia to Samoa and made his debut in the Pacific Cup late last year.

Samoa reached the final but fell short against New Zealand.

“This whole experience is more than I ever expected. I didn’t know about this,” Haas said in October.

“Just the love that we have all received. I am very grateful and very happy I made this decision.

“It was a great moment to debut. I just know how much this jersey means for myself and my family and my last name on my mum’s side. Whenever I pull this jersey on I will give it my all.

“It has been a long time coming. I always wanted to do this and play for Samoa for my blood lines.”