The father of NRL superstar Payne Haas has slammed fans for ‘hammering’ the family on social media after partner Joan was jailed following a horrific crash on the Gold Coast that left three people dead.
Susan Zimmer, 70, her partner Chris Fawcett, 79, and her daughter Steffanie Zimmer, 35, were tragically killed following the high-speed collision in Bonogin, near the Haas family home on December 30 last year.
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua was sentenced to three counts of manslaughter, dangerous driving of a motor vehicle, evading police, driving under the influence and driving without a license.
And her long-term partner Gregor Haas – the father of the 23-year-old Broncos star – said the situation is “just f***ed”, criticizing how much criticism he and the close-knit family have received online in the wake of the incident .
“People can be so critical these days. Social media is horrible, they just hammer us on that,” he said News Corp.
Gregor Hass (right, pictured with son Payne at the 2019 Dally M awards) has taken online criticism from fans following the fiery crash involving partner Joan, which killed three innocent people
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua (pictured after going to trial in 2019) is in prison and facing multiple charges for her role in a crash that killed three people on the Gold Coast on December 30
Haas was brilliant for the Broncos to start the season, but it sure was a tough time for him and the family off the field
Taufua remains at Southern Queensland Correctional Center west of Brisbane and suffered serious injuries herself in the fiery clash – and Gregor said the family has since “not dealt with anyone” and has been in a “shell”.
“I see Joan once a week… I never expected this. Life takes you on a journey you don’t expect,” he said of a visit to the women’s prison in Gatton, 90km west of Brisbane – a 330km round trip for him.
“Joan has been doing so much every day and I’m doing it the best I can. I’m still trying to figure things out every day.’
The other face of the tragedy, of course, is the Zimmer and Fawcett families, who have said the crash “wrecked their lives.”
That one of the NRL’s best players is the mother of the person accused of the crash is irrelevant to them.
Steffanie Zimmer is survived by a husband (Graham) and three children, as mother Susan (survived by another daughter, Claudine Snow) and longtime partner Fawcett, a retired doctor, died, devastating the cramped Gold Coast hinterland community.
Snow said at an emotional farewell ceremony for the trio in January that the busy holiday season, historically the worst time of the year when it comes to road safety, had already spooked her.
Zimmer’s daughter, Claudine Snow, collapsed at an emotional funeral in January to say goodbye to her three tragic family members
Susan Zimmer, 70, and her daughter Steffanie, 35, (above together) were killed after Taufua reportedly collided with their silver Mercedes
Retired doctor Chris Fawcett, 79, (above, Susan Zimmer’s partner) also died in the car crash
“The last thing (Mom) said to me in a voicemail was that she was worried about driving this time of year,” she revealed at the funeral.
“I wish she had just listened to her gut feeling and not gone out.”
Gregor said the Haas family is also mourning their “loss” of Taufua as they await her sentencing.
“I go through all kinds of emotions. You are going through a period of mourning,” he said.
Gregor and Taufua had ten children (although quadriplegic son Chace died three years ago), and also have two adopted sons, ages 20 and 19.
The patriarch of the family now cares for six of their nine school-aged children alone, with the older and adoptive children stepping up as quasi-parents to the younger children.
While acknowledging there were things he couldn’t reveal because the case is still in court, Gregor said his partner is “not well emotionally.”
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua, centre, is ’emotionally not well’ in the aftermath of the crash, says her partner Gregor (right)
Taufua was also injured after the crash and recovered in hospital before being transferred to prison
“She (Taufua) has a metal plate in her chest. She damaged her back. Her tailbone. Both shoulders were stuffed. She is still recovering now in prison,’ he said.
“I don’t know if they’re going to rehab in prison. She’s trying to rehabilitate herself.’
Haas himself has spoken out about it, although he usually preferred to let his performances do the talking on the football pitch.
“I won’t lie and say it’s been easy. It’s been very tough. I am lucky to have a good support network around me, I have my partner [Leilani] and daughter [Lalita],” he told the Sydney Morning Herald last month.
‘I am [also] close to mama – i’m a mama’s boy.’
Of course, the horrific crash wasn’t the first time Haas or his mother had run into trouble with the law.
The Broncos superstar has had his own share of trouble with the law throughout his career
Haas has been sidelined for a week after being charged with a hip drop tackle on Friday during his side’s victory over Parramatta (pictured)
Two years ago, the Broncos gag was fined $50,000 by the NRL and suspended for three games after being arrested for police harassment and pleading guilty.
He told a female officer that “because you’re a woman, you think I won’t touch you” during an expletive-riddled tirade while in Tweed Heads with his then-pregnant partner. No conviction was recorded and Haas was given a two-year good behavior bond.
Haas was suspended for four games in 2019 and fined $20,000 after refusing to cooperate with officials over an off-field incident during a junior game involving his family members; while the club were also hugely disappointed as they got into a drunken brawl in a Brisbane pub with teammate Albert Kelly last season.
The gag also faced court in 2018 pleading guilty to two traffic violations of allegedly driving without a license and using a cell phone.
Gregor said despite that, his son “knows how to separate things emotionally,” which he also had to do when Taufua was jailed last year after pleading guilty to assaulting two security guards at the Gold Coast’s Star Casino.
After a brilliant start to the year in which he led the Dally M medal tally, Haas has been sidelined for a week after being charged with a hip drop tackle in the Bronco’s big win over the Eels on Friday night in Darwin.