Payne Haas ready to prove his toughness against Dylan Napa
“Welcome to first grade, son.” Those were the words that left Brisbane prop Payne Haas on the deck the last time he faced Canterbury. The teenager won’t let it happen again this weekend.
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Brisbane prop sensation Payne Haas says he was left devastated by his NSW Origin axing and will use the setback to inspire the Broncos in his showdown with Queensland rival Dylan Napa.
Haas has a score to settle with the Bulldogs following the infamous “welcome to first grade, son” introduction from former Canterbury enforcer David Klemmer at Suncorp Stadium last season.
Playing just his second NRL game, the 18-year-old Haas was lined up by Klemmer, who crunched the teenager with a shot that left him concussed as he fell, also injuring his ankle in the process.
Klemmer has since moved to the Knights, but Haas will confront another Bulldogs big bopper in Napa, the 113kg hitman with whom he traded engine-room blows in Origin I at Suncorp Stadium six weeks ago.
Haas pulled off a superb extra-time trysaving tackle on Warriors utility Chanel Harris-Tavita last Saturday night and admits he is being motivated by his Blues demotion after NSW’s 18-14 loss in Game One.
“I was a bit gutted I wasn’t there (for Games Two and Three) but I was happy the NSW boys won the series,” said Haas, who plays his 16th NRL game.
“I just took it as a learning curve. Starting from camp one, I was with the best players in the game learning from them day in, day out. It was an experience that was much-needed and I took it in my stride and it’s made me a better footballer coming out of Origin.
“Right now, I’m not worried about getting my NSW jumper back. That’s next year. I’m more worried about the Broncos this year and trying to help us make the finals. That’s our goal, myself included.”
Broncos coach Anthony Seibold backed Haas, who is averaging a staggering 170 metres per game this season, to muscle up to Napa and exact revenge for his Bulldogs mauling at Suncorp.
“I have placed a lot of belief in Payne,” he said.
“I think last year he only played three games and limited minutes because he got injured in two of the games.
“Payne has been really consistent for us and has won the last couple of player’s player awards. He won the coach’s award (last) week.
“Payne’s season has been there or thereabouts every single week as one of our better players.
“His consistency is what I like. I am really big on trusting players and his best and worst games are very close together.
“Dylan Napa is a very experienced front-rower so it is a great challenge and I am sure Payne is ready to go.”
Haas said his match-saving tackle on Harris-Tavita was about putting in for the famous Broncos jumper.
“Seibs talks about when it’s your turn to go, you go, and it was my time to go and make the effort for the team, that’s what I had to do,” he said.
“It’s for the love of the jersey. You see the past that has been created here and you don’t want to let down that past.
“We are trying to build our own legacy and I play with lots of pride in the jersey.”
Originally published as Payne Haas ready to prove his toughness against Dylan Napa
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