Broncos young gun Payne Haas stitched up at training
It’s been a tough week for Payne Haas, and it got a whole lot tougher at training this week. Plus which NRL coach crashed his club-sponsored car? Those and more in Blindside.
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IT’s been a torrid week for Broncos young gun Payne Haas.
The 118kg prop was interviewed by police on Thursday over an alleged assault involving his family members at a junior league game last year.
And just two days earlier, as Blindside’s exclusive photo shows, Haas suffered a nasty head cut at Broncos training.
The hulking bookend was involved in a head clash with a Broncos teammate. Training was halted briefly as a Broncos medico was called onto the pitch to attend to Haas.
It is understood he received four stitches.
Haas was suspended for four games and fined $20,000 by the Broncos for failing to comply with an NRL integrity unit probe last month.
The 19-year-old will be available for selection after Brisbane’s round-four clash against the Roosters this Thursday night. While Haas was interviewed by police, Blindside understands he will not be charged – clearing him to face the Wests Tigers on Thursday week.
Valentine’s day arrives in the NFL
QUEENSLAND Origin star Valentine Holmes faces his first major examination in his dream to win an NFL contract.
This Monday night (Australian time), Holmes will put it all on the line, running out before scouts from all 32 NFL clubs to participate in the workout that will determine if he has a future in American Football.
Holmes and his fellow NFL aspirants will take part in the International Pathway Program (IPP) trial, to be held at the indoor facility of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Holmes rocked the NRL last November when he quit the Sharks to shift to Florida, where he has been learning the nuances of American Football for the past three months at the IMG Academy.
Now it’s D-Day for Holmes. If he impresses scouts at the workout, he could clinch an NFL deal immediately, just as Hayne did when he secured a deal with the San Francisco 49ers. The other option is for Holmes to be selected under the IPP system, which would give an NFL club a 12-month timeframe to develop the Maroons ace on their roster.
Holmes will trial on Monday as a running back, punt returner and slot receiver. Just 12 months ago, fellow Aussie Jordan Mailata trialled at the same facility and was picked up by 2018 Super Bowl champions Philadelphia in the NFL draft.
Slater giving back to Queensland
BILLY Slater is loving life in Melbourne but the retired Storm champion is still giving back to grassroots in Queensland.
The Maroons legend was on Brisbane soil last weekend mentoring the next generation of league stars via his Billy’s Buddies program. Now in its fourth year, Billy’s Buddies has taken off with more than 5000 participants aged between two to six signing up for a program aimed at teaching the fundamentals of ball sports and teamwork through theme-based activities.
Slater greeted mums and dads at Valley’s Junior Rugby League club last Saturday and admits he has been blown away by the success of the program.
“One of my main inspirations for starting Billy’s Buddies was my own two kids, Tyla and Jake,” he said.
“They love running around and being active. For me, it’s important that as many kids as possible have the opportunity to learn about how to be active, run, jump and have a great time in the Billy’s Buddies program.
“I really enjoy seeing kids giving it a go, learning a new skill and having a massive smile on their face. For me, the chance to help kids is what I’ve also been happy to do and I will continue to do it through rugby league.”
Coach smashes up the company car
WHICH leading NRL coach has crashed his new club-sponsored car? Thankfully the NRL coach wasn’t injured in the accident but the club is working on a replacement vehicle for their main man.
Arrow misses mark in Dally M
DALLY M judges need to lift their game for the credibility of the code’s most prestigious award. Last week, Titans forward Jai Arrow made a whopping 299 metres against Cronulla but the 3-2-1 votes all went to Sharks players. Judging is not an exact science but surely Arrow deserved at least one point in a losing team.
Glenn to Titans rumour remains
THE rumours will not go away about Alex Glenn and the Titans but the Broncos veteran insists he has had no dialogue with the Gold Coast about a move to the Glitter Strip.
Glenn, who equalled Brisbane legend Kevin Walters with his 241st NRL game against the Dragons last night, has been linked with a move to the Titans to ease building salary-cap pressures at the Broncos.
Titans coach Garth Brennan has great respect for Glenn’s longevity, but the Gold Coast cannot afford his $400,000 Broncos salary under the cap. The 30-year-old is off-contract at season’s end but says he hasn’t had a single discussion with the Titans.
“I don’t know if I’m being linked with the Titans because I live on the Gold Coast, but there’s no talks with them,” Glenn said.
“It (talk of Glenn joining the Titans) is news to me.
“I was overseas when the rumours first started happening. I rang my manager straight away saying, ‘Is there something you aren’t telling me?’
“I don’t know where the speculation is coming from. I’m still hopeful of getting another deal at the Broncos.”
Jacks flash agent choice
TITANS playmaker Ryley Jacks is aiming high in a bid to secure his NRL future.
The 26-year-old has joined forces with leading player agent George Mimis, whose SFX stable includes some of the code’s biggest names including NRL greats Billy Slater, Darren Lockyer, Gorden Tallis and Justin Hodges and Broncos skipper Darius Boyd.
Jacks has only signed a one-year contract with the Titans and has another chance to advance his claims for an upgrade in Sunday’s clash against South Sydney at ANZ Stadium.
18 minutes in heaven for Seibold
BRONCOS coach Anthony Seibold is a meticulous man.
The reigning NRL coach-of-the-year has imposed some strict time limits under his new regime at Red Hill.
Brisbane’s captain’s run – the final session of the week before game day – is capped at 18 minutes. Not 15. Not 60.
Strictly 18 minutes, with the exact time displayed on a sideline scoreboard which counts down the minutes.
And the well-organised Seibold has instructed that his pre-match media conference is not to last longer than 10 minutes.
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Under Brisbane’s former coaches Wayne Bennett, Anthony Griffin and Ivan Henjak, the captain’s runs lasted between 60 to 90 minutes, but Seibold prefers a shorter, sharper session.
“Eighteen minutes is all we need to do at the captain’s run,” Seibold explained.
“It’s just a confidence session a day before the game – it’s probably a bit different to what the players have done here in the past.
“We’ve done all the preparation earlier in the week so the captain’s run is really just a light warm-up for the players to gain a bit of confidence.”
Billy Slater in crazy career shift
Storm legend and Queensland coach Billy Slater has taken up a new position that nobody saw coming after the NRL season.
Broncos star named to become dual international for Kiwis
The Kiwi Ferns have called up four debutants for the Pacific Championships including Brisbane star Gayle Broughton who is poised to join one of sport’s most exclusive clubs.