Origin 2020: Payne Haas hoses down potential rematch with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui

NSW Blues enforcer Payne Haas is focused on bigger things than an Origin III rematch with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.

WEEKEND TELEGRAPHS SPECIAL. MUST TALK WITH PIC ED JEFF DARMANIN BEFORE PUBLISHING. Origin 2020 Payne Haas. MUST CREDIT Grant Trouville

Payne Haas only has one mission in Wednesday’s Origin decider — and it’s not getting another one over Queensland rival Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.

The Blues man-mountain was sin-binned for his part in a scuffle in New South Wales’ Origin II victory and even though fans will be salivating over the possibility of a rematch, Haas has bigger things on his mind.

Watch The State of Origin III Full & Mini REPLAY on Kayo with no ad-breaks during play and Fox League Commentary. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly

Big Blue Payne Haas wants to win the game not another fight. Picture: Grant Trouville

“We’ve got a game to win, I’m not there to be a fighter, I’m not there to try and show how big my balls are. I’m just there to do my job for the team,” Haas said.

“My head is going to be there on their map, I have to be prepared for that and just keep training hard.

“Queensland are going to have the underdog tag and they’ll come out firing, we just have to be ready for it.”

Haas revealed he’d buried the hatchet with Fa’asuamaleaui — but not before some stern words from his family.

Payne Haas is sent to the bin in Origin II/ Picture: Grant Trouville/NRL Photos

The Broncos behemoth said in the aftermath of the match the only thing he was worried about in the fallout from the brawl was the reaction of his grandmother, Soledad.

“We’re good mates, it was just heat of the moment. There’s no hard feelings. We spoke to each other, we DM’d each other, everything’s all good,” Haas said.

“They (my family) were all right, but when I got sent off they said I was carrying on a bit. I’m not going to do that again, I learnt my lesson.”

The Haas family will be among the few Blues fans in attendance on Wednesday with a capacity crowd allowed at Suncorp Stadium.

Normally, the Brisbane crowd reveres Haas for his play with the Broncos but this time around he’ll be Public Enemy Number One, not just for the fisticuffs but because he shapes as the Blues key forward after a dynamic display in Origin II.

MORE ORIGIN NEWS

The 10 things that will decide who wins Origin III

Kent: The biff that saved Origin from itself

Haas started at prop for the first time after two previous appearances from the bench and the 20-year-old delivered, finishing with more runs (17) and more metres (157) than any other forward on the field.

“Mum and Dad have a corporate box up there and they probably will be (the only Blues fans there),” Haas said.

“I experienced it last year and it was the same sort of crowd. You couldn’t hear anything, you couldn’t hear yourself breathe. I know what to expect and I just can’t wait.

“I knew I had a big opportunity and a big task ahead of me (in Origin II), I wanted to live up to it and I thought I did that. But I’ve got to go to another level on Wednesday.”

Originally published as Origin 2020: Payne Haas hoses down potential rematch with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui