Payne Haas recalls being told his disabled brother had 24 hours to live as family faces legal turmoil

Brisbane Broncos prop Payne Haas has opened up about the moment he was told his older brother had only 24 hours to live and how he continues to cope while both his parents remain in custody as legal proceedings continue.

Haas, 25, described the impact of his brother Chace’s death in August 2020 and said the loss was among the hardest periods of his life. Chace, 21, had been a ventilated quadriplegic after a 1999 car accident. "It was tough — Chace was everything to me," Haas told Channel 9's 100% Footy. He said he was at home, expecting his brother would recover from an illness, when his father called to say Chace had about 24 hours to live. "It broke me, I didn't wanna believe it... I spoke to him before they had to do what they had to do and he still had a smile on his face," Haas said.

Haas said the grief from his brother’s death took years to work through but that he still carries Chace with him. Despite the personal toll, he has remained a leading figure for the Broncos and one of the NRL’s most dominant forwards at State of Origin and international level.

The NRL star has had greater family responsibilities in recent years. He is the legal guardian of his younger brothers, Hans and Geejay, and is raising two children, daughter Lalita and infant son Luckee. Haas said growing up amid "chaos" shaped him and that he is determined to instill strong values in his siblings and children.

Haas’s mother, Uiatu "Joan" Taufua, has been committed to stand trial over a December 2022 crash on the Gold Coast that killed three people. She faces three counts of manslaughter and multiple driving charges, with police alleging she was drunk, unlicensed and speeding on the wrong side of the road while trying to evade police. The crash killed 79-year-old Chris Fawcett, his partner, 70-year-old Susan Zimmer, and her daughter, 35-year-old Steffanie. Taufua has remained in custody since her arrest and her legal team has sought mobile phone evidence for her defence.

Haas’s father, Gregor Johann Haas, remains detained overseas and is accused of attempting to smuggle methamphetamine concealed in ceramic tiles from Mexico into Indonesia. A Philippine court of appeals reversed a previous ruling that had recognised him as a Filipino citizen and blocked his release. He remains in custody in Taguig City while Indonesian authorities pursue extradition and discussions over possible arrangements continue.

Haas said he cannot control his parents’ actions and that their mistakes do not define his responsibilities as a father and guardian. "I've been around chaos all my life, so it's pretty easy for me to be honest," he said. "I know my parents and who they are as people. They've made their mistakes, but my parents did a lot for myself as well." He added that he wants his family to be "respectful and loving," and that if they live by those values, he has done his job as a parent and guardian.

On the field, Haas will lead Brisbane’s forward pack as the Broncos prepare to meet Canberra in a qualifying final. Brisbane finished the regular season fourth and faces minor premiers Canberra for a place in the preliminary final. Haas said winning a premiership remains a driving career objective. "I feel like I do need a ring to have that kind of name next to me — to have that kind of accolade puts you up another level and that's something I'm chasing now," he said, adding that he came close in 2023 and is determined to return to a grand final.

Haas’s revelations provide further detail about the personal challenges he has managed while maintaining his standing in the game. His family’s legal matters are ongoing, and both the criminal proceedings against his mother in Australia and the detention and extradition processes involving his father overseas remain active.