Sam Burgess didn't know it at the time, but a broken promise to Payne Haas would cost South Sydney the signature of the most sought-after teenager in the country.

Inside a Redfern café three years ago, Haas sat alongside Burgess and Michael Maguire.

Haas had flown with his father from their Gold Coast home to Sydney to meet the Rabbitohs - one of 12 clubs chasing the in-demand 16-year-old.

The now 19-year-old prop, who on Wednesday night will make his State of Origin debut for NSW after just 10 NRL games, was star struck in the company of Burgess.

So when the Englishman volunteered to venture to Penrith later that week to watch Haas play for Keebra Sports High in the GIO Cup final, the Rabbitohs had all but sealed the signature of the gentle giant.

"Before the game I was looking around for him," Haas said.

"But he didn’t come. I was a kid. It hurt me a bit. I used to love Souths. My dad’s a mad Souths fan. And Sam Burgess was someone I grew up idolising. It’s funny how things impact you when you’re young.

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"I was pretty close to signing there. The only reason I didn’t go any further with it was because Sammy told me he was going to come to my game. But he brushed me so I was like ‘oh don’t worry then, I’m not coming to South Sydney’."

It’s a story Haas would later tell Wayne Bennett during their time together at the Broncos.

So when South Sydney played against Brisbane earlier this month, Bennett told Burgess of the impact his no-show had on Haas.

"Sam wasn’t happy with that," Bennett joked.

Burgess reacted accordingly.

"He came up to me after that game at ANZ Stadium a few weeks ago," Haas said of Burgess.

"He said ‘I’m sorry I didn’t come to your game’. He actually couldn’t remember that he did say that, but he said if he did tell me that, he’s so sorry he didn’t come.

"I don’t hold any grudges against him. He’s a legend of a player and a legend of a person. I think it was all part of the plan. I believe I was destined to be at the Broncos and that’s what happened."

At that stage, Haas had narrowed it down to four clubs – the Storm, Rabbitohs, Titans and Eels.

After putting a line through the Rabbitohs, Haas decided he would sign with Melbourne.

Then Bennett called.

"He said he was walking out the door to catch a plane down to Melbourne and do the deal, with his dad," Bennett said.

"I told him to come and see me. So he did. I couldn’t sell you a car, I couldn’t sell you much in life, but I can sell you on playing football and I can sell you on playing for the Broncos. I’m good at that."