Promising Brisbane forward Payne Haas will make his top flight debut in trial against Capras

PAYNE Haas, the 18-year old wrecking ball who was courted by NFL clubs and compared to Jason Taumalolo, will make his top flight debut for the Broncos in a trial this weekend.

Payne Haas, Brisbane Broncos training, Purtell Park, Bardon. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

BRISBANE will unleash a forward likened in style to Cowboys wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo when teenage tearaway Payne Haas makes his Broncos debut on Saturday night.

Two years after rejecting interest from NFL scouts, the powerful Haas will make his first senior appearance for the Broncos aged 18 years and 70 days in a trial against the Central Capras in Theodore.

With coach Wayne Bennett resting his big guns, the hitout will be crucial for Todd Murphy, who will start at five-eighth in his bid to clinch the No. 14 utility spot for Brisbane’s premiership opener against the Dragons.

But all eyes will be on front-row monster Haas. At 116kg and 194cm, he is 3cm taller and 3kg heavier than Taumalolo and is tipped to break into the NRL this year after an impressive pre-season with Brisbane’s senior squad.

Haas is one of the most promising up and coming forwards in the game.

Despite his hulking frame, Haas has claims to being the fittest young forward in rugby league, thrashing his more senior Broncos teammates to win a 1.2km time trial in December.

The off-season departure of Adam Blair and Herman Ese’ese has decimated Brisbane’s front row but the Broncos are banking on Haas to step up — starting against the Capras in central Queensland.

Veteran Broncos enforcer Sam Thaiday said he was blown away by the Australian Schoolboy’s mix of size, strength and aerobic power.

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“Payne Haas has been training the house down,” Thaiday said.

“Payne is a big boy but the best part about him is he has a motor on him and he can go for days.

“He ran our best 1.2km time trial (in pre-season), he smashed everybody’s times, so that is a huge thing for a 116kg front-rower.

“It’s exciting times at the Broncos. I get to see these hungry 18-year-olds like Payne develop into NRL players and hopefully I can play a role in helping mould them into some great players of the future.”

Todd Murphy will start at five-eighth.

Haas is a product of Keebra Park, the high school that produced Wests Tigers whiz-kid Benji Marshall, and was chased by all 16 NRL clubs before opting to play under Bennett at Brisbane.

Broncos assistant coach Kurt Richards will take charge of the squad, with new recruits Andre Savelio and Patrick Mago to feature alongside Haas in a youthful forward pack.

Former Cowboys forward Mago, 23, will start at lock, while the 110kg Savelio, 22, gets his chance to impress in the second row after four seasons in the English Super League.

Murphy and Intrust Super Cup journeyman Shaun Nona will start in the halves.

For 27-year-old Murphy, it is a golden opportunity to finally realise his NRL dream after failing to crack the top grade at the Cronulla Sharks.

Broncos team to play Central Capras in Theodore on Saturday night, kick off 6pm

1 Jamayne Isaako, 2 Corey Allan, 3 Tom Opacic, 4 Gehamat Shibasaki, 5 Moses Pangai, 6 Todd Murphy, 7 Shaun Nona, 8 George Fai, 9 Jake Turpin, 10 Payne Haas, 11 Salesi Funaki, 12 Andre Savelio, 13 Patrick Mago. Interchange: 14 Gerome Burns, 15 David Fifita, 16 Thomas Flegler, 17 Patrick Carrigan, 18 Myles Taueli, 19 Keenan Palasaia, 20 Eddie Blacker, 21 Kotoni Staggs. Coach Kurt Richards.

Originally published as Promising Brisbane forward Payne Haas will make his top flight debut in trial against Capras