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Kat Wong

Brother of NRL star Haas charged with drug trafficking

Zeda Haas, the brother of NRL star Payne Haas, has been refused bail on drug trafficking charges. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

The brother of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas has been charged with drug trafficking after police seized almost two kilograms of methamphetamine during a vehicle stop.

Zeda Haas, 19, was charged alongside Kaharau Beer, 20, near Newcastle on Tuesday.

About 11.45am, officers stopped a ute in Beresfield and spoke with the driver and passenger.

Police said they seized 1.8kg of methamphetamine during a search of the vehicle.

Both men were arrested and have been charged with trafficking in a commercial quantity of a controlled drug and supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

The traffic stop came weeks after Australian Border Force officers intercepted two parcels from the United States containing a combined 4kg of methamphetamine, with a street value of $3.5 million.

Haas and Beer appeared before Maitland Local Court on Wednesday, when they were both refused bail.

Their case will return to court on Friday.

Haas is the younger brother Bronco Payne Haas, one of the star forwards in the NRL and a key player for the NSW State of Origin team.

The 23-year-old league prop has attracted interest from multiple clubs and Australian rugby, but his manager revealed on Tuesday he knocked back a $2 million-per-season deal from a rival team to sign a two-year extension with Brisbane.

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