State of Origin 2024: Payne Haas hits back at critics over his NSW Blues form

Payne Haas says his upbringing has given him ‘thick skin’, hitting back at his State of Origin critics, suggesting there is more to the game than what statisticians see on TV.

Payne Haas will carry the hopes of a state against Queensland at the MCG on Wednesday night as the Blues try to save the series. Picture: Getty Images

NSW prop Payne Haas insists his difficult upbringing has given him a “thick and tough skin” which helps thwart the critics who question his State of Origin performances.

Haas will carry the hopes of a state against Queensland at the MCG on Wednesday night as the Blues try to save the series.

But the Newcastle-born Brisbane Broncos star is used to shouldering the load, on and off the field.

Raised in the lower-Hunter town of Woodberry before his large family moved to the Gold Coast when he was 13, Haas admits “I didn’t grow up in the best of places or best surroundings”.

Payne Haas will carry the hopes of a state against Queensland at the MCG on Wednesday night as the Blues try to save the series. Picture: Getty Images

THE TOUGH ROAD

It’s what steeled him to succeed despite the obstacles he’s faced. He his older brother Chace died four years ago, after a family car accident in 1999 left him in a wheelchair for life.

Both his parents are currently behind bars, facing serious police charges from separate incidents. It’s left Haas, at 24, to take on the responsibility of raising his two school-aged brothers, alongside his daughter, Lalita, with his fiancee, Lani.

It’s why copping flak over the Blues’ Origin struggles doesn’t seem to faze him.

“Everyone can have an opinion but I’ve got pretty tough skin. That comes from my upbringing. I had to grow up around a lot of things and I’ve just grown thick skin,” Haas said.

“You had to be where I grew up. I’ve had to take things on the chin and not let it rattle me.

“I’m not emotionless but I feel my parents (Joan Taufua and Gregor Haas) were (hardened) and that’s what I fed off.

“Most of my brothers, we are pretty hard people, they get it from my mum, to be honest.

“You have to have thick skin and be mentally tough, given what I was surrounded by.

“I’ve learned that if you come in and try to prove people wrong then that’s where it goes wrong for you. I learned that from a young age.

“If you try to prove people wrong or prove them right, it just never works out for you. I’ve got good people in my life for that kind of stuff.”

The Haas family. Payne says his tough upbringing has given him thick skin.

ORIGIN OF CRITICISM

Haas runs for an average of 160m per game in the NRL, but that drops away to 111 in the Origin arena.

Haas averages 70 post-contact metres a game with Brisbane but only 45 for the Blues.

Even NSW legend Brett Kenny said “I was a little disappointed how he (Haas) performed in game one.”

Haas, though, remains unconcerned, adamant Origin is a different beast to club football and there are effort areas the statisticians and critics don’t see.

“I wouldn’t say I have nailed Origin, yet,” Haas warned.

“I feel I play my Origin games a bit differently to club land. Origin is a way different game to club football, it’s about the little effort areas, all the little things people don’t see on TV.

“It’s the one thing I learned in Origin, it can’t always be about attack. You have to do that little stuff; kick pressure, kick chase. There’s a lot more in Origin than NRL footy, it’s a whole different game.

“I want to keep doing what’s right for the team. I’m not worried about my own individual performance.”

While acknowledging he hasn’t dominated in the Origin arena, Haas has hit back at critics, suggesting there is more going on in the game than what you see on TV. Picture: Getty Images

PLACE AMONG THE GREATS

Asked whether he was the best prop in rugby league, Haas said: “I don’t know. I will save that for you guys (media) to answer.

“I don’t really care about that kind of stuff. I’m not here to compare with anyone, I’m just trying to compete with myself and see how much I can improve every year.

“I don’t really read (footy) stuff about myself, I hate it. I don’t know, I’ve never really liked reading stuff about myself about how good I am.

“I’m pretty modest. I don’t get into the hype too much. This can all be taken away from you just like that.”

Haas has seen that first-hand four years ago when the death of his brother Chase rocked him.

Then, in December, 2022, his mother Uiatu “Joan” Taufua was involved in a car crash that resulted in the death of three people.

She was charged with three counts of manslaughter and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evading police and driving unlicensed. She remains in custody.

In May, his father, Gregor, was rested in Cebu City in the Philippines on drug trafficking charges.

He is facing extradition to Indonesia, where he could face the death penalty.

Haas is confident NSW will be able to rip into Queensland in Origin II. Picture: Rohan Kelly

THE JOB AT HAND

The rampaging Haas will lead NSW into battle up front on Wednesday night.

He saw enough from an undermanned Blues side in Sydney to know his state will rip into Queensland.

“Twelve men, it’s pretty hard to gauge if you played well or not but I thought, collectively, we actually did well and we were the better team when we started that second half,” he said.

“But we ran out of gas and a few kick options weren’t the best. Guess you’re going to run out of juice in Origin with 12 men but I was proud of the way the boys fought.

“That game is done and it’s now do-or-die for us and we have to nail it.”

Originally published as State of Origin 2024: Payne Haas hits back at critics over his NSW Blues form