Payne Haas and his management have postponed talks with rebel rugby competition R360 as his asking price continues to climb towards $3 million a season.
The Broncos superstar and his manager Ahmad Merhi were due to meet with R360 officials this week but have delayed the talks while seeking clarity around their obligations to the NRL on Tuesday.
NRL rules prevent players from negotiating with rival clubs until the final year of their contract, and Haas’ management are waiting to confirm whether the same restrictions apply to rugby union according to the Daily Telegraph.
The pause comes as tension grows between the NRL and R360, with Peter V’landys warning players that chasing big money overseas may not be as glamorous as it seems.
MORE: Payne Haas set to meet with R360 as staggering offer revealed
For Haas, the numbers are impossible to ignore, with reports suggesting he could now be offered up to US$2 million a year — the equivalent of nearly $3 million Australian.
The deal would also come with tax advantages if he relocated to Dubai, taking his potential earnings to around $10 million over just two seasons when all R360 benefits are considered.
The offer has grown significantly from initial figures, with Haas reportedly reluctant to leave the NRL unless it is a financial windfall worth serious consideration — and it appears R360 are prepared to match that.
Haas has made it clear he won’t play for any other NRL club outside Brisbane and is coming off a premiership-winning season with the Broncos.
But with figures that dwarf anything the NRL can offer, his management feel they have little choice but to explore the R360 opportunity.
For now, talks are on hold, but with his value at an all-time high, Haas’ next move will be watched more closely than ever.
If the type of money now being reported becomes a reality, the game’s top stars will simply have to listen to R360 offers — and Haas could be the first major domino to fall.