How Sonny Bill Williams helped guide Payne Haas through the trials of Ramadan

Payne Haas has revealed how the guidance of Sonny Bill Williams has helped him become the best teenage forward in NRL history as the tearaway rookie continues to refine his partnership with Matt Lodge.

Payne Haas in action during Brisbane Broncos training at Clive Berghofer Field in Brisbane, Wednesday, August 28, 2019. (AAP Image/Jono Searle) NO ARCHIVING

• LOCKED IN: Titans re-sign young tyro

• DOUBT: Brisbane get a scare ahead of do-or-die clash

Broncos giant Payne Haas has revealed how the personal support of All Blacks superstar Sonny Bill Williams has helped him become the most dominant young forward in NRL history.

On the eve of Brisbane’s top-eight blockbuster against Parramatta tomorrow night, Haas outlined his ambition to forge a 10-year alliance with Matt Lodge as the front-row pillars to deliver the Broncos’ next premiership.

Underlining Haas’ ability, The Courier-Mail can reveal the 19-year-old is statistically the best emerging forward of the past 20 years.

Data provided by Fox Sports Lab shows that Haas is the first forward, under the age of 21, to amass 3000 metres in a single season since the code began tracking individual metre counts in 1999.

Former NSW Origin enforcer Mark O’Meley previously held the record with 2960 metres at age 20 in 2001, but Haas now has 3166m and could finish the 2019 season with a benchmark that may never be beaten.

Stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Get your 14 day free trial.

Haas is known for his tremendous fitness. AAP Image/Jono Searle.

Such a hunger for metres is inspired by a period when Haas was hungrier than ever.

In May this year, Haas observed Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting that saw the Broncos prop endure 27-degree heat at Brisbane training without a sip of water.

During that period, Haas displayed the mental toughness that defines an NRL champion, receiving help from fellow Muslim Williams, who educated the Broncos tyro on how to juggle religious sacrifice with professional sporting commitments.

“Sonny Bill has been pretty good for me this year,” said Haas, who plays his 22nd career game against the Eels at Suncorp Stadium.

“Ramadan was pretty good for me, I lost a bit of weight out of it.

“But it was good for me mentally and for my faith.

Haas trained did Ramadan for the first time this year. AAP Image/Darren England.

“I was really blessed to get through that period. Sonny Bill spoke to me about getting through games and he gave me advice on how to get through the weeks when I couldn’t fuel my body like others could.

“I will keep the exact stuff Sonny said to me private out of respect to him, but he has been a tremendous help for my NRL career.”

Premierships are not won without at least one dominant prop and the Broncos are blessed to have a one-two punch in the Haas-Lodge engine-room combination.

The duo are a formidable fusion.

Lodge is the no-nonsense toiler who never baulks at taking the “dirty” hit-up on play one.

Haas is the more dynamic athletic specimen with the motor of a marathon runner and the natural talent that saw him score a 43-metre special to sink Penrith a fortnight ago.

Together, they have punched out 6210 metres this season at an average of 326m per game, making Lodge, 24, and Haas one of the most consistent front-row pairings in the code.

Haas and Lodge are Brisbane’s two rising props. AAP Image/Darren England.

“I’m lucky to have a guy like Matt Lodge who does the hard work, it makes it easier for me to attack the other forwards,” he said.

“We’re only young as well, so hopefully we can stay together for another decade and win premierships. That’s my goal for this club.”

Lodge added: “I’ve learned my role this year. I take the early carry in a set and get some momentum so Payne can do his thing.

“He is a big reason why I signed another contract to stay here. Hopefully we can build something special for the future.”

While the Broncos cannot finish the regular season higher than seventh spot, Haas is adamant Brisbane can claim a big scalp if they clinch a finals berth by beating the Eels.

“I wouldn’t be playing here if I didn’t think we could make the finals,” Haas said.

“At the start of the year, I think we would’ve given up (when down 22-8 against Souths last week) but we’re a whole different team now.

“Our aim every week as a forward pack is to put it over other forward packs. We’re young, but we’re hungry and we can trouble anyone on our day.”

Originally published as How Sonny Bill Williams helped guide Payne Haas through the trials of Ramadan