The Haas reality behind this ‘incredibly marketable’ footballer

by · Australian Financial Review

Greg BearupSenior writer
Jun 12, 2026 – 5.00am

In rugby league circles, a heated debate is brewing about Payne Haas being the best prop forward “arguably” of all time. He’s big, he’s skilful, he’s fast, he’s exceedingly fit, and he’s the player opposition teams most fear. And yet, there are subjects this giant of a man tiptoes around as delicately as a ballerina – like the things he witnessed as a kid.

“Obviously, there was violence,” the softly spoken Haas tells AFR Weekend. And crime. “It’s a long story, but my family had a bit of a reputation growing up … they had a pretty big name in that kind of space, my Mum and my uncles.” His eldest brother, Jonah, was born while his mother was in jail. “You see some things as a kid, and you wouldn’t wish it upon others … but I don’t want to go into too much detail because I’d be doing my parents a disservice.”

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Greg BearupSenior writerGreg Bearup is a senior writer for The Australian Financial Review. Send encrypted tips to gregbearup_1234.09 on messaging platform Signal. Email Greg at greg.bearup@afr.com

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