- Klese is the younger brother of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas.
- His father was arrested this week for alleged drug trafficking in Indonesia.
- The brother also lost his brother in 2020 and his mother was imprisoned.
- Klese paid emotional tribute to his family at Saturday’s Magic Round
Gold Coast Titans forward Klese Haas paid an emotional tribute to his father and brother at the Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium.
Haas, the younger brother of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas, arrived at the game against the Newcastle Knights with his father facing an uncertain future.
Gregor Johann Haas, 46, was arrested on Wednesday by police in Cebu City, in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, and will be extradited to Jakarta to face drug trafficking charges in Indonesia.
If convicted, he faces life in prison or the firing squad.
Payne and Klese’s older brother, Chace Haas, died at age 21 in 2020, nearly 20 years after the family’s 1999 car accident that left him wheelchair-bound for life.
Klese Haas scores a try for the Gold Coast Titans with the words “Dad” and “Chace” on his wrist
Chase Haas and Klese Haas when they were children. Chase became a quadriplegic and died from complications in 2020
For the game against the Knights in Brisbane, Klese wrote “Dad” on the wristband of his right hand and “Chace” on his left.
When he took advantage of a Sam Verrills kick in the first half to score a try for the Titans, he raised both arms in celebration and linked them above his head in emotional scenes.
“A little message from Klese Haas, who’s starting to build a nice little career in first grade,” commentator Dan Ginnane said.
Klese and Payne’s mother, Joan Taufua, is in prison facing manslaughter charges after a car she was driving killed three people in 2022.
Payne has been caring for her Klese siblings and younger brother Zeda Haas ever since.
Payne Haas and his father Gregor Johann Haas at the 2019 NRL Dally M Awards
In 2020, he spoke about the pain of losing his older brother Chase and how he dedicated the Bronco’s game against the Canberra Raiders because his health was declining.
‘Confused ATM, but I know you won’t want me down, you’ll just keep going until my heart stops like you did!’ “I will love you forever, my best friend, my role model, but most importantly, my big brother,” Payne said on Instagram at the time.
‘I’m going to miss our banter and seeing your big smile every time I come home to see you, but I know you’ll take care of us all every step of the way. Thank you for being there for me when no one else was, I will carry your name with me wherever I go.
“I did this for you before this happened and I’m going to continue to do it for you. The most unconditional person I have ever met. I honestly miss you already, Ride or Die my Hitta, I’ll see you soon. Say hello to grandma for me too.