Hot potato Haas: Broncos in safe hands with Payne

In 2023 Payne Haas is doing more with the ball than ever before, while at the same time being on track to commit the fewest errors of any NRL regular this season. 

While increased ball movement naturally means more risk of mistakes, Haas has nailed the delicate balancing act all year, making just one error in 1072 minutes of NRL football to date and doing so alongside an offload rate which has him third in the competition with 39. 

The 23-year-old's ball retention record is unmatched in terms of players with more than 1000 minutes of game time this season, while among the NRL's top offloaders it puts him in a league of his own. 

Of the top 10 offloaders in the competition, Eels prop Junior Paulo is the only other player with fewer than seven errors this season, with the top two – J'maine Hopgood and Bryce Cartwright – both having error rates in the double digits. 

The ability of Haas, alongside the likes of teammate Patrick Carrigan, to keep the ball alive in tackles has been a key driver in Brisbane's rise to become minor premiership contenders, and on the back of it players like Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam have flourished.

Heading into Friday night's clash with the Eels at The Gabba – in which Haas will celebrate his 100th NRL game – his lack of other negative metrics stands out too. 

Among players who have played 18 or more games this season the NSW bopper ranks third for fewest missed tackles behind Wests Tigers duo Alex Twal and David Klemmer.  

Of the 552 tackles he's attempted this year he's failed to make just nine.

On the disciplinary front he's been excellent too, with his four penalties conceded being the least among players with 1000+ minutes on the field.