Broncos smash Souths Logan 42-0 in preseason trial

Broncos monster Payne Haas has sounded an ominous warning to NRL rivals with a barnstorming performance as Brisbane trounced feeder-club Souths Logan 42-0.

The Seibold era started in style in Warwick. Photo: David Martinelli.

• Five things we learned from Broncos trial win

BRONCOS monster Payne Haas has sounded an ominous warning to NRL rivals with a barnstorming performance in Brisbane’s 42-0 trial trouncing of feeder-club Souths Logan.

Returning to action after a five-month layoff following a shoulder reconstruction, the 120kg enforcer ran riot as the Baby Broncos launched the Anthony Seibold era in style with a ruthless rout of the Magpies.

Playing in the town that is home to Wayne Bennett’s sprawling farm, the youthful Broncos — watched on by his successor Seibold — were never troubled in an eight-try cakewalk.

Haas turned Father Ranger Oval into his personal playground, mauling the Magpies with his fusion of pace and power before capping a bruising display with a rampaging solo try in the 43rd minute.

The 194cm hulk may still be only 19, but on this evidence, Haas has franked his claims for an interchange front-row berth for Brisbane’s premiership opener against big guns Melbourne on March 14.

The Seibold era started in style in Warwick. Photo: David Martinelli.

“Payne did a great job,” Broncos assistant coach Kurt Richards said.

“He had big wraps last year and he didn’t get a chance to show what he could, but that was a good stepping stone for what he can do this year.

“We played Payne for extended minutes to get his match fitness up, he ran hard and got us quick play the balls.”

“I was happy with the overall performance, we gave away 14 or 15 penalties but the effort was there.”

Here’s the scary part _ Haas has returned bigger and better. Granted, this was a pre-season hitout against a second-tier team. But Haas regularly cantered over the advantage line against older rivals and there are few NRL props that can match his footwork, brute strength and superior fitness.

There were plenty of good signs for Brisbane. Photo: David Martinelli

When Haas charged towards the tryline just after half-time, hapless Magpies defenders resembled the Warwick under-8s as he skittled defenders to post his first try for the new campaign.

The hard-running Haas was the poster boy for Brisbane’s Baby Boomers, with fellow greenhorn forwards Tom Flegler, Pat Carrigan and Jamil Hopoate impressing in their senior Bronco debuts.

Flegler, 19, and Carrigan, 21, are still raw in forward terms, but both relished the physical exchanges and are tough enough for the NRL.

But Seibold would have been thrilled to see Brisbane’s class extend to the backline.

It was a chance for the rookies to show their abilities. Photo: David Martinelli

With Haas setting the platform, emerging playmakers Tom Dearden and Cory Paix had a field day, the pair pocketing three tries between them to ensure Kodi Nikorima cannot be complacent in the No.7 jumper.

Brisbane have unearthed a future superstar in Dearden. The 17-year-old is too young to sneak into the local Warwick pub but the blond-haired dynamo wasn’t intimidated by Magpies rivals a decade older.

The Palm Beach Currumbin product scored two solo tries, striking in the second minute with a razor-sharp dart before producing a Johnathan Thurston-style show-and-go to touch down again on the half-hour.

Paix, a Cooper Cronk lookalike, joined the party in the second half, showing good skill and speed to unlock the Magpies in the 53rd minute for a 38-0 lead.

“Our halves were good,” Richards said. “Tommy is only 17 and he did great job. We have good hopes for Tom, he will go a long way towards playing Queensland Cup this year”.

BRISBANE 42 (T Dearden 2, J Turpin, P Haas, T Niu, R Kennar, C Paix, X Coates tries; H Farnworth five goals) SOUTHS LOGAN 0 at Father Ranger Oval. Crowd: Approx 3,000.

at Father Ranger Oval. Crowd: Approx 3,000.

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