Haas has met with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade several times in a bid to trigger his father’s release and return home. However, the government’s attempts appear to have fallen on deaf ears.
There were plenty of senior government officials in attendance at Sunday’s grand final, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
On top of the mounting legal costs, the Herald can reveal that Payne has taken matters into his own hands in recent months as concern grows over the physical and mental condition of his father in the dilapidated Manila detention facility. He has sought assistance from local contacts in attempts to deliver his father’s freedom.
The father of nine strongly denies allegations of shipping five kilograms of methamphetamine from Mexico, an amount sufficient to qualify for a death sentence in Indonesia if he were put on trial there and found guilty.
A screengrab from a social media post, allegedly showing the arrest of Australian Gregor Haas in the Philippines.Credit: Instagram
Indonesian investigators accused Gregor of being a member of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and of trafficking drugs from Guadalajara to Jakarta in December 2023, concealing them in ceramic tiles.
He emphatically denies the allegations, saying he has never been to Mexico and that his arrest came after a business dispute he had in Indonesia in relation to buying a resort.
In a recent interview with this masthead, a candid Payne spoke about his father’s plight, as well as the death of his ventilated quadriplegic brother and the incarceration of his mother, Joan.
“I can’t control what is alleged against my dad,” he says. “I grew up with my parents day-to-day, and I know who they are as people.
Broncos prop Payne Haas.Credit: Steven Siewert
“They’ve had their issues, but I can’t control that. It’s been a difficult time for my family and many others who have been affected.
“But my parents also did a lot for me. It’s not all negative when it come to my parents. They’ve made me who I am today.”
Kiwis suffer Pacific Championships blow
Jahrome Hughes will be ruled out of New Zealand’s Pacific Championships squad and will undergo shoulder surgery in the coming days.
Melbourne star Jahrome Hughes.Credit: Getty Images
To gain an appreciation of just how much discomfort the Melbourne Storm halfback has been in, he will have to go under the knife immediately after the grand final to repair a shoulder injury he suffered earlier in the year.
Retired Gold Coast Titans playmaker Kieran Foran has answered an SOS from Kiwis coach Stacey Jones and will be named in the Kiwi squad for the Test series against Tonga and Samoa in October and November.
Out ‘n’ about at the grand final
- Penrith coach Ivan Cleary and wife Bec were sitting among the fans a few rows back from the field, watching son Jett play for the Warriors in the NSW Cup grand final. Nathan Cleary is on holiday in Bali.
- Warriors NRL coach Andrew Webster lining up for a drink at the bar at half-time of his team’s NSW Cup decider. Owner Mark Robinson and CEO Cameron George were also in attendance for their side’s 50-20 win.
- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Papua New Guinea PM James Marape in the NRL’s suite.
Seven on the scene at Accor
For the first time in recent memory, Channel Seven was represented in the NRL’s suite on grand final day.
Seven West Media chief executive Jeff Howard was invited into the chairman’s box just weeks after this masthead’s revelation that his network had acquired the rights to the 2026 Rugby League World Cup on a deal worth close to $12 million.
Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie with Seven West Media CEO Jeff Howard.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
It comes in the same week as the NRL sat Prime Video Australia head of content Alexandra Gilbert at table one at the grand final luncheon on Thursday. Gilbert was sitting next to NRL boss Andrew Abdo at the main table.
Kevvie’s last chance to settle on Ashes squad
Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters will stay in Sydney on Sunday before meeting with selectors and finalising his Ashes squad on Monday morning.
As reported by the Herald in recent days, Broncos superstar Reece Walsh, Roosters flyer Mark Nawaqanitawase, Cronulla hooker Blayke Brailey, Canterbury back-rower Jacob Preston, Newcastle centre Bradman Best, South Sydney enforcer Keaon Koloamatangi, and Raiders young gun Ethan Strange are all in line to be selected in Walters’ squad.
Meaney tipped for PM’s XIII selection
The Melbourne Storm will have Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Xavier Coates representing the Kangaroos during the Ashes.
We’re hearing Nick Meaney will be rewarded for his strong season by earning a call-up to the Prime Minister’s XIII team to play against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby next weekend.
There will be members of the Ashes squad included in the game, especially those who haven’t played any football for a number of weeks.
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