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 will be no further comment until the end of a 10-day cooling-off period.
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Previous reports had suggested Haas, who was once in the sights of the rebel R360 competition, 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.
More to come…
