NRL 2023: Broncos prop Keenan Palasia goes from bank teller to potential Test star
It’s one of the NRL’s most inspiring comebacks – the former bank teller who has fought back from the brink of retirement to land in the middle of a representative tug-of-war.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Broncos prop Keenan Palasia is the former bank teller who’s fought back from the brink of retirement to land in the middle of a representative tug-of-war.
Palasia is on the verge of becoming one of the NRL’s most inspiring comeback stories heading into Saturday night’s preliminary final blockbuster with the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium.
A win for Brisbane will see Titans-bound Palasia qualify for his first NRL grand final, just a couple of years after he contemplated walking away from the game.
Palasia was working fulltime in a bank and playing reserve grade following multiple serious knee injuries. He has ruptured the ACL in his left knee twice while most ligaments in his “dodgy” right knee are shot.
But the 26-year-old “footy head” couldn’t give the game away and has fought back to become a crucial cog in Brisbane’s firing front row rotation.
“I wouldn’t say I thought about it (retiring) 100 per cent, but it definitely crossed my mind a couple of times,” Palasia said.
“I’ve done two ACLs on one knee and in the other knee I’ve got a dodgy MCL, PCL and every other ligament. Being a footy head, I couldn’t throw the boots away.
“I’ve got a strong support system. I’ve been at this club since I was 17 and they’ve been behind me all the way. They’ve looked after me.”
While the likes of Origin stars Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan and Tom Flegler attract much of the middle forward plaudits, Palasia has been quietly averaging 83m and 19 tackles per game this season.
He blew Melbourne away in week one of the finals with 17 runs for 132m and wants his Broncos career to end in the Accor Stadium decider on Sunday week before he joins Gold Coast.
But it took a five-match mid-season stint in the Hostplus Cup with Wynnum-Manly for Palasia to discover the form that’s got him to the verge of an NRL grand final.
“I needed a bit of a wake-up call and ‘Kev’ (Broncos coach Kevin Walters) gave that to me by sending me back to Q-Cup for a bit to work on my craft and build some confidence,” he said.
“He gave me some things I need to work on and told me to get back to the basics like running and tackling hard without overthinking things. I had to bring that into the NRL and keep my spot.
“I’ve got a simple job. I give the ball to Patty and Payne and when they get a quick play-the-ball I go next.”
While Palasia is hoping to go all the way with the Broncos, that may not be the end of his season.
New Zealand coach Michael Maguire has made inquiries about naming Palasia in the Kiwis squad for the Pacific Cup Test series.
Palasia has already represented Samoa and the Queensland under-18s representative has ambitions of playing State of Origin for the Maroons, something he will not be able to do if he pledges his allegiance to the tier one Kiwis.
Palasia’s manager Tas Bartlett said the 51-game NRL prop had a big decision to make following his career comeback.
“When I started managing Keenan I thought he was probably one injury away from the scrap heap,” he said.
“He was working in a bank and seriously looking at the next part of his life.
“But he has got a break and been injury-free. Consistently playing in the NRL for the past couple of years has given him the confidence and belief that he truly belongs there.
“It looks like he’ll be named in the New Zealand squad and he’s got to make a decision to play for the Kiwis or Samoa because he’s still got aspirations to play for Queensland. He has got the drive to wear a Maroon jersey.
“He has to make a big decision in the next few weeks around what that looks like.”
While Palasia has resurrected his career at Red Hill since his 2019 NRL debut, his future lies on the Gold Coast.
The Titans, under former coach Justin Holbrook, secured Palasia’s signature long before the 2023 NRL season kicked off and he is hoping to make a mark under new coach Des Hasler.
“It was a tough call because I was comfortable here. But I was at a point in my career where I needed to get out of my comfort zone and chase a bigger role,” he said.
“I’m not going to a team of nobodies. All the forwards there have more rep honours than me.
“I’m not going there with the thought of slipping straight into the team. I’ll put my best foot forward and hopefully get a good crack.
“Hopefully Des knows who I am and likes me as a player. I’ve still got the pre-season there. I’ll have to train hard and see what happens in round one.
“I’m not really one to look back at my decisions and regret them.
“It was a decision I made and stuck with. I made it and moved on. I had to finish the year strong with Brisbane.
“Hopefully I can go down there as a premiership player.”
The GOAT: Legends back Haas to become Broncos’ best
—Travis Meyn and Peter Badel
Brisbane premiership legend Glenn Lazarus has declared Payne Haas is on track to become the greatest prop in Broncos history as the Warriors prepare to confront the NRL superstar they lost.
Haas is 80 minutes away from his first appearance in an NRL grand final heading into Saturday’s blockbuster qualifier against the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium.
The Broncos booked a spot in the NRL’s final four by smashing Melbourne 26-0 and are on track for their first grand final since the heartbreaking 2015 loss to the Cowboys.
While Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh have been dominant forces for the Broncos this year, at the heart of Brisbane’s resurgence since the 2020 wooden spoon season has been Haas.
The 23-year-old has already racked up 102 NRL games and become a NSW Origin and Kangaroos superstar, recently inking a three-year extension to remain at Red Hill.
Lazarus, Shane Webcke and Petero Civoniceva are widely regarded as the Broncos’ three greatest engine room leaders.
Haas is on track to join them and could finish his career as the greatest front rower in Brisbane’s rich history, according to five-time premiership hero Lazarus.
“Payne is the best prop in the comp,” he said.
“He shows that every week. He is a very consistent player and is in a class of his own.
“It’s hard to believe the guy is only in his early 20s. He is only a baby. I didn’t play first grade until I was 23 and he is already doing this now.
“I said to him when I was in Brisbane a few weeks ago, ‘I personally hope you stay because I reckon you could create a massive legacy here if you stay long-term’.
“When it comes to the Broncos they talk about Webby, Petero and me, but he will clearly be in that group as well.
“I’d love him to create a legacy at the Broncos and become one of the greats of the club. He is very capable of doing that.
“By signing for another few years, he will create a legacy there that will be hard to beat by future front rowers. The stats are there to be seen.”
The Warriors have become the feel-good story of the 2023 NRL season, rebounding from three years of Covid hurdles to make the preliminary finals.
‘The Wahs’ smashed Newcastle 40-10 in Auckland on Saturday night to secure a berth in the grand final qualifier against the Broncos.
But they will have to take down the in-form Broncos led by the NRL’s No.1 prop in Haas, who was once a Warrior.
After coming through Gold Coast’s junior system, Haas was released by the Titans in 2016 to join the Warriors and moved to New Zealand.
He spent a year with the Warriors before deciding to return to Australia and was snapped up by the Broncos after considering a career in the NFL.
“I went to the Warriors for a year and they were good to me,” Haas said earlier in his NRL career.
“I actually enjoyed my time there. The club were great for me, I had heard they had good development for young players so that’s why myself and my family decided to send me to New Zealand.
“I only came back because I was young, I was homesick and I wanted to be close to my family again.”
The Warriors’ loss has been Brisbane’s gain, with Haas becoming one of the most damaging forwards in the NRL since his 2018 debut.
He has averaged 164m and 24 tackles a game, rarely missing any, in 2023 and is expected to be in the mix for the Dally M Medal next week.
Lazarus said Haas was deserving of his success.
“I’ve had a little bit to do with him. I’ve spoken to him a couple of times,” he said.
“He is a really nice guy. He has a lot of controversy around him, but he is a lovely guy and appears to be really happy to see you.
“I’m so happy for him and the Broncos that he’s signed on again. I wish him all the success in the world. He deserves it.”
More Coverage
Originally published as NRL 2023: Broncos prop Keenan Palasia goes from bank teller to potential Test star
Parramatta legend: ‘24 Panthers don’t have a hope against ‘83 Eels
Penrith have claimed their place in the rugby league record books, but Parramatta great Ray Price has rejected suggestions they’ve gone past his Eels, claiming they had “every position and we every tactic covered”. WHO IS BETTER? VOTE NOW.
Gus’ ‘doctored’ claim ignites NRL conspiracy
The NRL Grand Final’s controversial no try scandal has taken a wild turn despite the game releasing the angle the decision was based on.