Star Brisbane Broncos forward Payne Haas has been arrested and charged after getting into an altercation with NSW police near the Twin Towns RSL late on Saturday night.
Regarded as one of the NRL’s best front-rowers, the 21-year-old player was charged with offensive language and intimidating police after allegedly becoming abusive with officers who approached him and his pregnant partner during a drunken argument.
Payne Haas was granted conditional bail and will appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on 2 February.
The Broncos have since released a statement saying Mr Haas is ‘ashamed and extremely remorseful for his actions’.
Broncos chief executive Paul White said, ‘Payne knows he has done the wrong thing and is prepared to take ownership of his actions.
‘As a club, we will continue to work with Payne to ensure he understands what he must do to improve, and also ensure he continues to receive the support and education that he needs.’
Payne Haas has previously been fined $20,000 and temporarily suspended from the NRL for failing to comply with an NRL integrity unit investigation.
In spite of being named the Brisbane’s best player for the past two seasons, and representing Australia and NSW, Mr Haas now seems unlikely to captain the Broncos next season, which begins in March.
The NRL Integrity Unit is investigating the incident.
