Darren Lockyer column: Payne Haas’ appetite for tough stuff bodes well for future success
LIKE most people, I had heard a lot about Payne Haas before I saw him. At 118kg and 194cm he was impossible to miss when I spotted Haas at Brisbane’s season launch earlier this year, writes Darren Lockyer.
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LIKE most people, I had heard a lot about Payne Haas before I saw him.
At 118kg and 194cm he was impossible to miss when I spotted Haas at Brisbane’s season launch earlier this year.
What was apparent immediately was his size for an 18-year-old.
But what impressed me the most in Haas’ NRL debut for the Broncos in Thursday night’s win against South Sydney was his appetite for the tough stuff.
Haas grew up on the Gold Coast terrorising his junior opponents with brute natural strength.
That won’t be the case in the NRL for now.
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There are many first graders his size and even bigger. At this stage of his career, he will rarely be charging through opposition defences.
It took Cowboys superstar Jason Taumalolo five seasons in the NRL to develop into the destructive force he is today.
What Haas needs to do well this year is show the right attitude in defence and not shy away from the hard stuff and that is exactly what he did at ANZ Stadium as the Broncos recorded a crucial 24-20 win.
What I saw in the gritty comeback victory was Brisbane’s future.
Haas, at 18 years and 145 days, was the youngest debutant prop in Brisbane’s 30-year history.
The 121kg Matt Lodge, who is pushing through a painful rib injury, was playing just his 20th NRL game.
Tevita Pangai Jr was outstanding at lock, charging for 131m and making 27 tackles without missing one in a man-of-the-match performance. He is only 22.
For the first time in a decade the Broncos have started to form a big forward pack, reminiscent of the late 1990s and early 2000s when Petero Civoniceva, Shane Webcke and Brad Thorn were leading Brisbane to consistent success.
Size does matter and in those three, the Broncos have middle forwards that could create a great platform at the club over the next 10 years.
The Broncos’ challenge is, as always with young promising talent, to retain them and nurture their development to ensure they become the consistent leaders needed in a successful team.
While Brisbane’s big men in the middle were outstanding against the Rabbitohs, the 192cm Corey Oates was sensational out wide.
Oates has consistently been one of Brisbane’s best players this season. The winger charged for 213m, busted six tackles and scored a try.
At 105kg, Oates has ambitions to play in the back-row but he is an outstanding winger that brings so much to the Broncos playing in the wing position. It would be hard to rack up those stats playing in the back-row.
In a way, he was unlucky to lose his Maroons Origin jersey last season but the nature of Queensland’s heavy Game One defeat meant changes had to be made.
Oates, 23, is right back in the Origin selection mix again. Having now played 104 NRL games, he is a more experienced competitor and has improved his consistency.
He has responded well to being overlooked for a position in the forward pack, much like Kodi Nikorima after being axed from halfback.
Nikorima could have dropped his head after being sent back to a bench utility role following five games in the No.7.
Instead, he has been excellent in two appearances from the interchange, providing invaluable spark to prove that may be his best position at the Broncos.
Coach Wayne Bennett has a big decision to make if stand-in hooker Josh McGuire (ankle) is unavailable for next Thursday’s game against the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium.
With regular No. 9 Andrew McCullough (elbow) sidelined, the risk in starting Kodi is he will burn energy tackling in the middle and not have the same zip in attack.
Alex Glenn seems the most logical option to start at dummy-half, allowing Nikorima to provide impact from the bench.
The Broncos have a bright future with their big forwards in the middle, but Nikorima has proven the game’s little men are just as important.
He has also shown the importance of being prepared to do whatever is needed for the Broncos to remain in the premiership hunt.
Originally published as Darren Lockyer column: Payne Haas’ appetite for tough stuff bodes well for future success
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