Roosters’ Savala toโ Explore Options, Ponga โLinked โขto Warriors, Haasโค Faces โฃBan in Rebel League Pursuit
SYDNEY, November 2, 2023 – Sydney Roosters assistant coach Hugo Savalaโ is set to test his โmarket value after โคthe club secured Daly โCherry-Evans, while speculation swirls aroundโฃ the โfuture of Newcastle Knights star Kalyn Ponga, who wasโฃ photographed meeting with a Warriors recruitment official.Meanwhile, Brisbane Broncosโค forward Payne Haas is reportedly considering a lucrativeโ code switch to the rebel league R360, a move that could result in a decade-long ban fromโค theโค NRL.
The โฃdevelopments signal a potentially significant โshift in the NRL landscape โas players and coaches assess their optionsโ ahead of theโ 2024 season โฃandโฃ beyond. Savala’s availability adds another experienced coaching figure to the market, whileโค uncertainty surrounds Ponga’s long-term commitment to the knights.Haas’s potential move represents a major challengeโ to the NRL’sโข authority and a significant financial blow to theโ Broncos.
A photo surfaced showing Ponga in conversation with โคWarriors recruitment boss Andrew McFadden,fueling speculation about a potential move. Ponga has previously expressed interest in representing โthe Allโ Blacks, but โฃhas stated he is unwilling to play Super Rugby, a prerequisite for selection โin New Zealand’s rugby โฃunion team. Despite reportedly dismissing suggestions of โjoining the Warriors, Ponga’s future remains โuncertain as the Knights have yet โฃto secure him to a contract extension.
Payne โHaas is reportedly on the verge of signing a deal with โR360 worth up to โ$3โ millionโ per season. The Daily Telegraph reported โขthatโฃ Haas, who is free to negotiate with โrivals โas โคof โขNovember 1, is considering the switch for a substantial payโ rise. โWhile the Broncos are keen to retain โฃHaas with a multi-yearโ extension,they are unlikelyโค to match R360’s offer.
However, any deal with R360โ carries a significant โrisk for Haas. The NRL has implemented strict โrules prohibiting players โand agents from engaging with the rebel league, โand a contract with R360 could resultโค in a 10-year ban, potentially effective promptly, โขeven if Haas honors his current contract through 2026.
Haas has played 142โค games for the Broncos as โhis โdebut in 2018,โ scoringโค 13 tries. Heโ has also represented both โNew South Wales in 17 State of Origin matches andโข Australia and Samoa at the international level, with six Test appearances.
