NRL 2022: Broncos awards, Payne Haas wins Paul Morgan Medal for fourth straight year
Five months after a shock request for a release from the Broncos, star prop Payne Haas has taken out the club’s top award for the fourth time, but he was almost upstaged by a club veteran.
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Payne Haas is on the cusp of Broncos’ greatness after clinching a fourth straight Paul Morgan Medal amid fears he could walk out on Brisbane.
Haas joined Broncos legend Allan Langer in claiming Brisbane’s top honour for the fourth year running at the club’s awards presentation on Tuesday night.
Haas moved past three-time winners Darren Lockyer, Corey Parker and Petero Civoniceva to outright second behind Langer, who won the award five times, on the list of “Porky” medal champions.
Haas (61 votes) edged out reborn winger Corey Oates (56) and captain Adam Reynolds (48) finished one vote ahead of Pat Carrigan.
While Haas was a clear winner the past three years, any of this season’s top four would have been worthy champions.
Haas had a solid year, playing 20 games and racking up an average of 163 metres and 32 tackles with his tireless performances in the front row.
However his form dipped in the back end of the season as he dealt with painful shoulder injuries and the Broncos crashed out of finals contention with five losses in their last six games.
Haas, 22, was also at the centre of controversy after sensationally requesting an immediate release from his contract in the middle of the season as the Broncos found themselves in top four contention.
Not content with his salary, Haas wanted to quit the Broncos immediately, only for the club to deny his request.
Haas was dramatically booed by Broncos fans in his next appearance – against the Titans at Suncorp Stadium in round 12 – and admitted he was “rattled” by the reception.
It was short-lived as Haas vowed to give his all for the Broncos, but the issue is far from settled with contract negotiations expected to heat up again this off-season.
While Haas is contracted to Brisbane until 2024 and says his preference is to remain at the Broncos, he hasn’t ruled out leaving Red Hill and the simmering situation could come to a head at any time.
Until then, he remains Brisbane’s best player of the past four years after earning the most votes from his coaches and peers in Brisbane’s best season since 2018.
While they narrowly missed the finals, the Broncos’ 13-11 record was their best in four years and it came on the back of some star individual performances.
Oates produced arguably the best campaign of his 10-season career, scoring a personal record 20 tries in 22 games to secure the players’ player award.
Carrigan, the State of Origin player of the series, was crowned most consistent while Reynolds claimed best back in his first season at the Broncos despite polling less votes than Oates. Rookie of the year honours went to boom five-eighth Ezra Mam.
"Kurt Capewell. Welcome to Brisbane. An instant hero."
— Brisbane Broncos (@brisbanebroncos) September 20, 2022
Captain Capes introduced himself to Bronxnation in Round 1 with this one-pointer out of NOWHERE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rhrjplLjJW
A RIDICULOUS try saver from Tarryn for our NRLW Play of the Year 🤯 pic.twitter.com/6luSm7z1nL
— Brisbane Broncos (@brisbanebroncos) September 20, 2022
For the Broncos’ NRLW team, emerging outside back Jaime Chapman won player of the year in her first season at the club.
Chapman, who also won players’ player, was a standout at centre and fullback, notching four tries and running for 148 metres per game.
Jasmine Fogavini was rookie of the year and best forward while Tarryn Aiken claimed best back in what was a disappointing season for the Broncos.
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