Battling Payne: Haas says niggles won’t hold him back

Nursing a heavily bandaged right wrist and having had a training-ground scare with his ankle this week, Broncos prop Payne Haas has assured fans he feels fit and healthy ahead of what shapes as the most important three-game stretch the club has faced since 2019.

The 22-year-old missed Origin III and two games for Brisbane due to AC joint issues in both shoulders earlier this year, with his latest knock to the wrist coming during last Saturday’s 28-10 victory over the Knights.

But Haas downplayed fears it could cause him to miss Friday night’s crucial clash with the Storm at Suncorp Stadium, which could make or break Brisbane's top-four hopes. 

“I think it’s just a cork, I think it happened in the Knights game and it’s just a bit sore today, but I’ll be all good,” Haas said on Tuesday.

The sniper was out today, I nearly did [my ankle] in a pothole [too].

Payne Haas

“I had a few weeks off and obviously missed out on [the final] Origin, but I feel pretty good now, pretty fresh, obviously I don’t look it, but I’m actually alright.

“The staff have been pretty good for me and I feel pretty good coming into the back end of the season.

“I think last week was a good stepping stone. I just have to keep building for finals.”

Haas has averaged 169 metres per game this year and been a key defensive player for the Broncos, averaging 32 tackles with a 98 percent tackle efficiency rate.

After suffering back-to-back defeats to the Eels and Wests Tigers, last week’s victory over the Knights has Brisbane on the verge of securing a finals spot for the first time since 2019, with Haas labelling it a timely confidence boost. 

“I think we needed it, especially coming into Storm and Parra the next two weeks, it’s a big end of season for us and top eight isn’t guaranteed yet,” Haas said.

“These last few weeks have felt a bit different, lots at stake for us.

“We know what’s on the line, we know how good Melbourne play up here and we know mentally we have to be there.

“We have got to go for the win, we aren’t that team anymore where just putting in a good performance against a top-four team is good enough anymore.”