Payne Haas has revealed that he has changed his name to honour his Islamic faith.
The Brisbane Broncos enforcer made headlines this week after it was revealed that he had put pen to paper on a three-year deal to join the South Sydney Rabbitohs at the end of the 2026 season. The Courier Mail reports his new deal is worth around $3.6million.
While it has already been a big week of changes for the 26-year-old prop forward, Haas revealed on Wednesday that he will be adopting a new Muslim name, Hakeem Haas.
He will follow in the footsteps of other sporting greats who have altered their identity in devotion to the religion, including his mentor Sonny Bill Williams and boxing icon Muhammad Ali.
In the past two days, Haas has travelled with the Broncos side for their upcoming World Club Challenge match against Hull KR on February 19.
The premiership winner and his team-mates touched down in London this week, with he and Reece Walsh taking a trip to Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Leeds United on Tuesday night.
Payne Haas has revealed that he has changed his name to honour his Islamic faith
While it has already been a big week of changes for the 26-year-old prop forward, Haas revealed on Wednesday that he will be adopting a new Muslim name, Hakeem Haas
Haas also confirmed that he had changed his name on Instagram, amending his display name from Payne Haas to Hakeem Haas.
The Daily Telegraph reports that the prop-forward has not yet legally changed his name. However, the outlet adds that he is greeted and referred to as Hakeem when he participates in Islamic events.
The 26-year-old adopted Islam back in 2019 when he was 19 years old.
‘I had no religion beforehand. But I’ve been following Islam for a bit,’ Haas said to the NRL, speaking on his new faith in 2019.
‘I felt like I was going down the wrong path a bit, probably at the end of last year. I felt like I needed a change. I went to Islam, I found it and it’s taught me a lot.
‘It just made sense to have good people around me. I know people who are Muslim too and they’ve taught me a lot.’
Haas’s great friend and mentor, Williams, converted to Islam in 2009 and altered his name to Hamza.
There are similarities between his career and that of Haas’s, with the cross-code Kiwi great also once being regarded as one of the best young players in the NRL. Like Haas, clubs were fighting tooth and nail to snap him up.
The premiership winner and his team-mates touched down in London this week, with he and Reece Walsh taking a trip to Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Leeds United on Tuesday night
The Brisbane Broncos enforcer made headlines this week after it was revealed that he had put pen to paper on a three-year deal to join the South Sydney Rabbitohs at the end of the 2026 season
Haas’ great friend and mentor, Williams, converted to Islam in 2009 and altered his name to Hamza. The Broncos star revealed that Williams had given him plenty of advice during the fledgling years of his career
Haas has opened up on their friendship on multiple occasions, stating in 2019 that Williams had regularly sent him messages during the fledgling years of his career, offering up advice.
‘I speak to Sonny, Sonny’s a real good brother of mine,’ Haas said.
‘He’s always messaging me, making sure I’m alright. He’s always providing good guidance for me.
‘I’m learning from one of the best ever to do it. He’s giving me life advice. I ask more things about life. But he’s always messaging me, asking how I am. Telling me: “Just be yourself. Don’t change for anybody. Just be yourself”.’
The 26-year-old, who is arguably the best forward in the game right now, has a 10-day cooling off period in which he can make a U-turn on his decision to join the Bunnies.
Adam Reynolds, who announced that he would be retiring at the end of the 2026 season, claimed that he and his team-mates would be ‘trying to twist Haas’ arm’ and get him to renege on his move to the Souths.
However, Haas appears set on the switch, with his agent, Ahmad Merhi, revealing that the New South Wales representative star wanted to move to the Souths because of legendary coach Wayne Bennett.
‘Look, to be honest with you, Brisbane is Payne’s home, his city, his club, his people,’ Merhi told The Daily Telegraph.
The 26-year-old, who is arguably the best forward in the game right now, has a 10-day cooling off period in which he can make a U-turn on his decision to join the Bunnies
But it appears that while attempts have been made to keep him at the Broncos, Haas (right) is moving to the Souths to work under legendary coach Wayne Bennett
‘He’s been at the Broncos for almost 10 years, from a teenager. He’s won a premiership there now. He’s hoping for a second premiership. Over those 10 years, he’s played for Australia, he’s been a senior leader at that group.’
It comes as rumours have emerged that the forward had fallen out with coach Michael Maguire. But both Merhi and Reynolds have squashed those suggestions.
‘Brisbane has done nothing wrong,’ Merhi said. ‘The club has always been professional and accommodating to Payne and his family. The CEO Dave Donaghy has always looked after Payne.
‘There’s no bitterness, there’s not a fallout and there’s no blame on Brisbane. I’ve been very, very silent through this whole process. From my perspective, once clarity was reached, the decision didn’t waver.’
He added that Haas was also not moving to the Bunnies because of money.
‘It was never a money decision. No amount of money would have changed the outcome. The principal reason is Wayne Bennett,’ Merhi said.
‘He’s the central driver, man. Wayne started Payne’s NRL career. Wayne remained a mentor presence throughout Payne’s career.
‘His relationship with Wayne has never stopped, regardless of the clubs that Wayne’s gone to. He’s always been there for him.’
While rumours have emerged that the Broncos could perform a last-ditch attempt to keep Haas with an improved contract offer, Merhi snubbed out any hopes that the premiership-winner could backflip on the deal.
‘There’s no U-turn situation here,’ Merhi said.
While confirming that Haas would perform at his best to attempt to bring back-to-back NRL titles to the Broncos, Merhi added: ‘We do not do backflips. The decision is done.’