Broncos analysis: Brisbane needs NRL rivals to fear Payne Haas if they are to contend for the title in 2025

For Brisbane to become a bona fide title contender next season, the Broncos need Payne Haas to transform from locomotive to hit man or risk spending another NRL season in the doldrums.

Kevin Walters needs Payne Haas to change his game. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Broncos coach Kevin Walters finalised a review with Brisbane’s 30-man full-time squad last week.

Two days later, Brisbane’s superstar prop Payne Haas underwent surgery on a Lisfranc foot injury he bravely played with in a desperate bid to get the Broncos to the finals.

During his recovery, which will span three to four months, Haas must ruminate over his role at the Broncos, his growing status at Brisbane and what type of front-rower he wants to become.

For the Broncos to become a bona fide title contender next season, Haas needs to fire up, get some mongrel in his game and start putting the fear of God into the opposition.

Haas is a remarkable player. He is the fittest prop in the code, a five-time Paul Morgan Medallist, his statistics are off the charts and few forwards in the game possess his constitution to consistently punch out tough carries from the first minute to the last.

But where is the fear factor?

How many blokes has he whacked into next week?

Brisbane needs a hit man not a locomotive. Payne Haas pictured. NRL PHOTOS

Haas has made 904 tackles over the past two seasons but it’s hard to recall many making the NRL hit-of-the-week highlights reels in the mould of Jason Taumalolo’s bone rattler which snapped Leo Thompson in half last week.

Haas is on superstar money. At $1.1 million, he is the highest-paid player in Broncos history and, with Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, the highest paid forward in rugby league this season.

The Broncos aren’t paying Haas to be a mere metre eater. With his monster salary should come an expectation that Haas take on the role of being Brisbane’s standover man and at 118kg, he has the size and power to intimidate his rivals.

For all the myriad theories about Brisbane’s stunning collapse this season, the stark reality is this: the Broncos pack is bereft of a true enforcer.

Premiership teams invariably possess an intimidator who has opponents looking nervously out of the corner of their eyes.

Kevin Walters needs Payne Haas to change his game. Picture: Tertius Pickard

The Broncos built their golden years on Gorden Tallis, Brad Thorn, Shane Webcke and Petero Civoniceva. Then there was Tonie ‘Tunza’ Carroll, the hirsute hit man who broke the soul of any ballrunner who dared attempt to steamroll Darren Lockyer.

The Panthers have James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota. Melbourne’s title-winning teams had Jesse Bromwich, Adam Blair, Felise Kaufusi and 200cm Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

South Sydney in 2014 had Sam Burgess and Ben Te’o. The Sharks in 2016 had Andrew Fifita and Paul Gallen. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Victor Radley and Spencer Leniu give the current Roosters side some punch.

Brisbane’s charge to the 2023 grand final campaign was built on the hard-hitting presence of Haas’ front-row partner Tom Flegler, who had that touch of madman that gave the Broncos some menace.

Without Flegler, the Broncos pack is as frightening as an episode of Play School.

They have lost an aggressive edge.

Not one other rival forward unit in the competition would truly fear playing the Broncos.

It’s a serious problem.

Statistically, Haas, not helped by his foot injury, had the worst season of his career this year.

His average metres were down 29 per cent (166m to 118m), his post-contract metres were down 33pc (72m to 48m), his average possessions were down 26pc (20.7 to 15.2) and his tackle busts were down 29pc (95 to 67).

His flagging numbers triggered speculation as to whether Haas was unhappy at Red Hill. His manager Ahmad Merhi recently contacted Broncos boss Dave Donaghy to address the rumours.

“I spoke to Dave about it and he said I’m getting phone calls about this (Haas being unhappy),” Merhi said. “There’s no concerns at all. There’s no truth or reality to it. Payne is very settled. He would love to win a premiership.

“He’s had his surgery and he’ll be out for a few months, but he’s looking forward to next season. He would love to win a premiership for the Broncos.”

Haas showed with his barnstorming performance for NSW in Origin II this year that he can deliver on the code’s biggest stage.

Now his real character examination begins for the Broncos.

If he wants that premiership, if he wants to be a winner, Haas needs to get angry and bash down the front door.

If he flexes his muscle next year as Brisbane’s front-row intimidator, Haas will become the most complete prop in the code and put the Broncos back in title contention.

Originally published as Broncos analysis: Brisbane needs NRL rivals to fear Payne Haas if they are to contend for the title in 2025