Reece Walsh has described comments from Cooper Cronk as “silly” after the NRL great suggested that Payne Haas’ decision to leave would have a destabilising effect on the Broncos’ playing group. Haas stunned the league world last month after signing a three-year deal to join Souths next season, having just won a premiership with Brisbane in 2025.

Haas will be determined to help the Broncos become just the third side in the NRL era after the Roosters and Panthers to win back-to-back grand finals, before he departs for the Rabbitohs. But four-time premiership winner Cronk wrote off Brisbane’s chances this week after suggesting the Haas situation would have a detrimental effect on the playing group.

Reece Walsh (слева) has shut down concerns from Cooper Cronk (справа) that Payne Haas’ (центральный) decision to leave the Broncos will derail their NRL premiership defence in 2026. Фото: Getty

“I think the Broncos will finish top four, but I don’t think they go back-to-back,” Cronk told News Corp. “The whole story that Wayne (Bennett) did this stealth mission (poaching Haas from the Broncos), I love it.

“But there is something that says arguably your best player has just won a comp and wants out a year later. What does that say to the rest of the group?”

Cronk reckons motivation could be a major issue for Brisbane’s players this year and pointed to the fact they missed out on the finals the season after their grand final heartbreak in 2023. He also questioned whether coach Michael Maguire could get the players up again for another gruelling campaign under his famously demanding methods.

Broncos stars reject concerns around Payne Haas’ exit

But Walsh and teammate Patrick Carrigan have both rejected any suggestion of complacency at the Broncos, and insist they’ll push just as hard to win another premiership in 2026. And Walsh was quick to shut down talk that Haas’ decision to leave would hurt their chances of going back-to-back.

“I think the part about derailing… that’s a bit silly because if it was your last time with someone, would that derail you? Would that make you push harder to want to do better?” Walsh said to The Courier Mail.

“If he thinks that’s the right decision for him to go (to Souths) and support his family and do what’s best for him, then I’m going to support him and be behind him no matter what. The way we’re looking about it, and our mindset is it’s our last opportunity that we have together as a group for Payne and we want to make it count.”

Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh (L) has rejected suggestions Payne Haas’ (R) decision to leave after this season will derail the Broncos in 2026. Pic: Getty

(Bradley Kanaris via Getty Images)

Carrigan says the Broncos are under no illusions that they’ll be losing “probably the best front-rower the game has ever seen”. But he says the team fully supports Haas’ decision to do what is best for his family, and is confident that Brisbane have enough talent coming through their ranks to be premiership contenders for years to come.

“Payno הוא שחקן מדהים, וסביר להניח שהוא השחקן הטוב ביותר בעמדת הקדמית במשחק הזה,” אמר קרייגן ל-The Courier Mail. “אבל אנחנו משחקים כקבוצה, ויש לנו שחקנים כמו שאוור ווילסון, אובילס טווה ובן טקה, שיכולים להביא אותנו למצב של ניצחון שוב.”

ברייסון מתחילים את ההגנה על התואר שלהם בקרב מרגש מול פנרטי בסטדיון סונקורק ביום שישי בלילה. הפנרטי ירצו נקמה לאחר ההפסד הקשה שלהם לקבוצת ברונזס בסיום של הסיבוב האחרון בשנה שעברה.