By Matthew Sullivan

Copyright news

It emerged this week that up to 10 players are expected to leave the NRL to join R360 after the rebel rugby union competition got the green light to start in October next year.

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Haas had been mentioned as a player targeted by R360, but Code Sports reports the Broncos want to extend his contract beyond 2026 for at least another three seasons on a deal worth $1.2 million per year.

“There has been talks about R360, my mail is he won’t be leaving the Broncos, he won’t be going to free agency, he will sign a new deal with the Broncos after the Grand Final,” Peter Badel told NRL 360 on Thursday.

It’s the richest contract offer for a forward in Broncos history and puts the 118kg athletic machine on par with the highest paid playmakers in the NRL.

Haas, 25, has cemented himself as the premier prop in the NRL and his defensive pressure on Nathan Cleary in the final play of last weekend’s preliminary was proof of his dominance as an 80-minute forward.

‘Players are going to get rich’ in R360

While Haas will recommit to the Broncos, several top NRL players are set to join R360 on lucrative deals when the competition kicks off in October 2026.

R360 will have franchises in London, Miami, Tokyo, Dubai, Boston, Cape Town, Lisbon and Madrid — the kicker is players will be allowed to choose their place of residence, meaning players can earn tax free salaries by basing themselves in Dubai.

The Australian reported R360 is offering NRL and Australian rugby union players tax free deals worth more than US$1million (A$1.5 million).

Parramatta’s Zac Lomax has three years left on his contract worth $650,000 but has been heavily linked with a move to R360. He brushed off questions about his future when quizzed at the Dally M Awards.

Rabbitohs fullback Jye Gray has reportedly been offered $900,000 while, New Zealand Warriors veteran Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is all but certain to join R360.

Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona has also been in talks to join the competition.

“There’s a lot of money involved. Players are going to get rich,” the Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read said on NRL 360 this week.

R360 as a concept has drawn comparisons to LIV Golf, and there are doubts about the sustainability of the competition with teams based around the world and YouTube as the broadcast partner.

“What rugby league has got in this country is tribalism,” Read said.

“That’s why people go and watch it. They want to go and see their club, they’re invested, they’ve got an emotional tie to it.

“LIV Golf lacks a bit of emotion. This is a bit like that. If Zac Lomax goes to play for Madrid, and they play one game a year in Madrid, who’s going to support them?”

“The players are getting offered a million or a million and a half dollars US, tax free. It’s like LIV Golf,” Greg Alexander said on SEN’s Vossy and Brandy.

“How do you stop players going to it when they are offering almost tax free money in US dollars, and big money.”

Eels coach Jason Ryles has said he would be open to Lomax departing, which could open the door for Parramatta to pursue 23-year-old Storm playmaker Jonah Pezet to partner Mitch Moses.

Ryan Papenhuyzen is off contract at the end of 2026 and the Melbourne Storm are reportedly resigned to the fullback leaving for R360 when his contract expires.

“They really love Ryan,” Read said.

“He’s been a great servant for them, they’ve got cap difficulties, the cap is very tight and he would solve a problem for them.

“Whilst I think they’d be disappointed to see him go, it wouldn’t devastate them.”

Broncos great Gorden Tallis said Papenhuyzen leaving may not be the worst thing for the Storm.

“I don’t think they would be that worried,” NRL 360 co-host Tallis said this week.

“And I’m not talking for Melbourne. I think with the injuries, the way he’s played.

“They’ve got that young guy just waiting in the wings as well, Sua Fa’alogo. I think they wouldn’t be upset.”

Bronco set for $100k upgrade

Broncos forward Pat Carrigan is reportedly in talks with Brisbane about an upgrade and extension of his current contract that runs until the end of 2028.

Carrigan is on around $750,000, but his management is reportedly negotiating a $100,000 upgrade on that deal per season.

“He’s on about $750,000 this season, you could argue that’s unders for a man of Pat Carrigan’s ability,” Peter Badel told NRL 360.

“That’s prompted his management to go the Broncos and say, ‘Can we get a little bump up, can we beef up his deal?’ I think that will happen in the fullness of time, possibly at the end of the season.

“I think you’ll find Carrigan will be on around $850,000 or $900,000 next season.”