Payne Haas dominates to give himself shot at Blues jersey

Before kick-off, Maroons coach Kevvie Walters gave a shout-out to Brisbane’s young Origin hopefuls to lift. Unfortunately for Kevvie, the message came through to Payne Haas instead.

Tom Dearden looks to burst through a tackle. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

• MATCH REPORT: Segeyaro the hero for Broncos

Before kick-off in the Broncos-Roosters showdown, Maroons coach Kevvie Walters gave a shout-out to Brisbane’s young Origin hopefuls.

“Get your act into gear and show us something,” Walters said on Fox League.

Unfortunately for Kevvie the up-and-coming Bronco who did just that was 20-year-old Payne Haas, who may have played his way into a blue jersey.

Payne Haas relaxes on the sidelines before tearing the Roosters apart. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

Haas was sensational in a game full of headline moments.

We had Cooper Cronk sent to the bin after just three minutes and hearing something he thought he never would – boos from the Suncorp crowd.

We had Roosters hit-man Jared Waerea-Hargreaves waging a one-man war on Jamayne Isaako who obviously has done something to upset him.

We had Mitch Aubusson auditioning for a part in The Mummy II and looking so scary that Latrell Mitchell dropped an inside pass from him that he normally would have taken with his eyes closed.

We also had Darius Boyd hinting that he intends to follow his former Origin teammate Valentine Holmes into the NFL, with two forward passes to Corey Oates in the first half.

And if that doesn’t work out he obviously fancies his chances in the Premier League, given his drop kick along the ground just before half-time.

James Segeyaro celebrates his match-winning try. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

But most of all we had an under-pressure Broncos side going up against the red-hot Roosters and giving it everything they had.

Was this really the same team that was smashed by the reigning premiers 36-4 just six weeks ago?

Well no, it wasn’t. This was an outfit oozing with enthusiasm, skill, composure and mateship. With every crucial play – and there were plenty – the Broncos players almost pushed each other out of the way to offer congratulations, high-fives and fist bumps.

There was a passage seven minutes out from half-time that the Fox TV commentators labelled the Broncos’ “best set for 2019”.

Latrell Mitchell drops the ball in a Broncos tackle. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

If so, it held the title for all of 16 minutes, with a last-tackle attacking play nine minutes into the second half needing to be seen to be believed as the ball went through five sets of hands, was kicked off the ground by Oates and taken in a reflex slips catch by Anthony Milford who put through a perfectly weighted grubber into the in-goal to force a drop-out restart.

The crowd loved every second, roaring themselves hoarse in what Walters described as “a dress rehearsal for Origin”.

Mitchell Aubusson looking pretty. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

It was a fair comment, with the way Latrell Mitchell “rag-dolled” gutsy Broncos halfback Tom Dearden at one stage reviving memories of Gorden Tallis manhandling Brett Hodgson in 2002.

Not that it worried Dearden who, like every one of his teammates, did his club and his coach proud.

Five weeks ago the Broncos’ field goal option against the Tigers was a shambles. Against the Roosters they set up Milford with what could only be termed clinical precision before newcomer James Segeyaro delivered the coup de grace.

Anthony Seibold’s team has come a long way in a few months and they still have a long way to go if they are to make an impression come finals time – but it’s sure going to be exciting to watch them try.