Payne Haas is Origin's perfect monster, poised to join the Blues all-time greats

Sydney Morning Herald

2 days ago

His 17th NSW appearance on Wednesday will draw level with Steve Roach, behind only 90s greats Glenn Lazarus (19 Origins) and Paul Harragon (20).
A call to Roach begins with cautioning the old Balmain bookend that we're not putting Haas on that Origin pedestal just yet.
'Oh, I think we can,' Roach interjects, 'I think Payne is at the point where he is matching the best for impact.
'There's not many who have racked up big games in the front-row [for NSW] because it's such a tough position to play. But Payne is just a freak, and I think we take for granted what he does every week for Brisbane.
'I always thought the measure, the very best of modern front-rowers, was Glenn Lazarus. With that unbelievable engine that he had, his play-the-ball speed and all his skill.
'But I think Payne is starting to reach that level, and further down the track will probably be spoken about in the same sort of realms as Lazarus.'
Haas' Origin I man-of-the-match performance had Lazarus, and then some, written all over it, coming after just half a pre-game training session due to a grade 2 quadriceps tear.
Eighteen runs for 156 metres, 61 post-contact metres, three tackle busts and 30 tackles don't tell the full story of how Haas almost single-handedly dominated Queensland's middle six weeks ago.
A three-minute video on NRL.com compiling every Haas hit-up from Origin game one is more instructive. With each of the first dozen carries, a trio of Maroons defenders swarm like bees, but they never stop Haas from bending the defensive line, finding a quick play-the-ball or an offload to keep NSW moving downfield.
Lazarus, and then some, was Haas's wherewithal to run wider than usual to get at Cameron Munster, the awareness and ability to pop a pass to Nathan Cleary, keeping the play alive for the Blues first try, and the kick chases he repeatedly led across 29 and 27-minute stints.
When NSW then recovered from a miserable first half in Perth to almost pull off Origin's greatest comeback, it was Haas (10 second-half runs for 78 metres and four tackle busts) and Hudson Young standing tallest.
The Origin dominance - ala Lazarus being widely regarded as the best prop since Immortal Arthur Beetson - is in full swing.
Lazarus told this masthead two years ago that if Haas 'can get himself in the right headspace and stay there, he's got as much as 10-12 years to keep going as the first front-rower picked for NSW and Australia. If he stays at Brisbane and stays in the right frame of mind, they'll win competitions.'
That assessment came not too long after Haas's protracted 2022 contract saga and release request from the Broncos. Haas has only endured upheaval and tremendous tragedy since, yet has only further nailed down his standing as the game's best front-rower.
He is now the legal guardian of two younger brothers while his mother Joan awaits sentencing after fleeing a car crash that left three people dead, and his father Gregor is detained without charge in the Philippines on drug smuggling allegations that he denies.
'I can't control some things – I know that. I can only control what I can, and that's playing footy and being a good person,' Haas says of his remarkable ability to set off-field dramas aside.
Out of respect, Maguire won't go into Haas's home life, but stresses: 'That's what your story should be about. Payne's a very special, very good person. You don't get many like him.'
Haas is now in his seventh full season of NRL and in career-best form, all while managing a back issue all season. A cortisone injection has him fit to start in Wednesday's decider, but limited him to light duties in NSW camp.
When you ask of holding Haas back, idling an engine that could power every suburb in Brisbane, for the front-rower's own sake, Maguire gives a very Maguire answer.
'It's bloody enjoyable to coach when you've got players that are pushing boundaries,' the former Blues coach says.
'When you've been given the gift of a motor like Payne's got, you let him go after the higher end of what he can do. His dedication to training rubs off on everyone.'
Haas, in turn, has relished the coach's challenge for him. For a man playing rugby league's hardest role, he has always spoken exceptionally softly, and only when necessary.
Blues staff and skipper Isaah Yeo have noticed a distinctly louder figure in meetings and forward huddles this series, all while Haas nurses his body into each brutal contest and then dominates them.
'That's been Madge's challenge for me,' Haas says.
'I think on the field, my leadership has always been there in my actions. But I'm a pretty quiet guy. So it takes a bit to speak up, and I still shit myself whenever I have to jump up and talk in front of people.
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'I've struggled with public speaking, but Madge has pushed me to become a voice in our meetings and speak up to lead a bit of our culture. Of course, you have to practice what you preach too. That's really important to me, I don't want to lose myself.
'I'm not always going to talk, but when I do, I want my point to be strong and have meaning. That's what I've taken on board this year, going beyond just how I act and play.'