Dual international Ben Te’o warns Payne Haas of the ‘boredom factor’ of rugby
Former Brisbane Bronco and rugby union convert Ben Te’o has warned NRL star Payne Haas that money isn’t everything and that ‘boredom’ is why rugby league players always return to the sport.
Haas is at the center of another Rugby Australia poaching attack that has already produced Sydney Roosters star Joseph Sua’ali’i.
RA is willing to spend over $1 million annually for the Origin tyro to join Super Rugby and the Wallabies, more than the Broncos can afford.
Te’o played NRL games for Wests Tigers, Brisbane Broncos, South Sydney Rabbitohs and the England national team.
During his time in the NRL, he won the 2014 NRL Premiership with Souths and was named to the NRL All Stars team in 2013 and 2014.
A double international, Te’o played for England in both rugby league and rugby union, eventually returning to the NRL
Haas must make a big decision with the Broncos offering him a multi-million dollar deal that can’t match the war chest that Rugby Australia has
In 2014, Te’o made the switch to rugby union and signed with the Irish provincial team, Leinster.
He went on to play for Worcester Warriors in the English Premiership and was selected to play for England in the 2016 Six Nations Tournament.
He also played for the British and Irish Lions on their 2017 tour of New Zealand before returning for an NRL swan song.
T’eo has warned Haas that he will miss rugby league if he leaves and that he must make his decision carefully.
“If I had been born with Payne’s body and attributes, I know what I would do,” Te’o said. News Corp.
‘I took a leap of faith to go to rugby but to be honest I missed rugby league and us [the NRL rugby defectors] eventually they all come back, that’s the reality.
“History shows we all come back because rugby league is part of you and the NRL is the best league in the world.
It would be a shame if Payne left the NRL.
Sua’ali’i has already pledged his allegiance to rugby and the Wallabies and Te’o hopes he will return to rugby league afterwards
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has made it no secret that he wants to recruit the best rugby league players to break codes and play for Australia
“I think Suaalii will come back one day – he will miss the hustle and bustle of the NRL,” Te’o continued.
“He will enjoy his time in rugby, but there is nothing in rugby that equals what the NRL has to offer.”
Te’o sensationally warned Haas that his time in rugby was frustrating and boring, which drove him back to rugby league.
“I’ve come to experience rugby as a world game, but once you’ve seen it, it’s not as impressive as you’d imagine,” he said.
“There are a few things Payne has to keep in mind. First, it would take him time to settle in. If his attributes don’t transfer, there will be that frustration factor.
There’s also the boredom factor. Payne won’t be able to make 20 hit-ups per game and do all the things we admire him for.
Te’o was a passionate NRL player and now works as an assistant coach with the Dolphins under Wayne Bennett
Te’o warned Haas that walking away from the NRL without winning a premiership would eat him away
“There’s no buzz like the NRL. There’s no buzz like the build-up we have for NRL and Origin games. The daily things in the newspaper. The week-to-week coverage on TV. Rugby does not have the same coverage as the NRL.
‘It was definitely a magnet for me to go abroad and play places like Twickenham.
‘In rugby league I felt like I was on this loop, but in rugby I could travel to other countries on weekends.
“I know it’s fun playing in a packed stadium in Paris and I’ve enjoyed my time in rugby, but honestly nothing beats the Cowboys versus Broncos at Suncorp with 50,000 fans.
“I was lucky enough to win a premiership at Souths before I left, but if you’ve never won a premiership and you go to rugby, it’s going to eat away at you.”