Why Payne Haas misses Eddie Jones’ NRL rugby union hit list

He may be the most dominant forward in rugby league, but former Wallabies, England and current Japan head coach Eddie Jones isn’t convinced Payne Haas would make the same incredible impact in rugby union—despite attempts to sign him for the Wallabies back in 2023.

Discussing which current NRL players would be most likely to make a successful transition to the 15-man game the Broncos star failed to rate a mention from Jones until he was directly asked by Chiming In podcast host Steve Gillis.

“(Haas) is an interesting player,” Jones said.

“He obviously has a big engine… but where do you play him?”

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“He’s not tall enough to be a lock, he could probably play in that Brad Thorn role, a real workhorse maybe somewhere in the back row,” Jones continued, before admitting an athlete of Haas’ calibre would likely still find some level of success.

Currently on the sidelines with an MCL injury, Haas was heavily linked last season with a big-money switch to R360 until the rebel rugby union competition was delayed by at least two years.

The 26-year-old Australian and Samoan international has since signed a three-year deal to reunite with his former Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett at South Sydney from 2027.

Given Haas will still only be 29 when that contract expires, union may yet come calling before he hangs up the boots.

Eddie Jones names his Top 5 rugby union targets from the NRL

While Payne Haas wasn’t one of them Eddie Jones did name the top five current league stars he’d love to see in rugby union, including three other NRL forwards.

Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs)
Liam Martin (Panthers)
Erin Clark (Warriors)
Steven Crichton (Bulldogs)

Why Payne Haas misses Eddie Jones’ NRL rugby union hit list

Eddie Jones names his Top 5 rugby union targets from the NRL

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