Casualty Ward: Broncos optimistic on Payne Haas injury, Jaydn Su’A’s season looks to be over

The Broncos insist that Payne Haas has no fresh injury concerns despite their key enforcer hobbling form the field last night while the Dragons are resigned to losing Jaydn Su’A for the remainder of the season.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire insists Payne Haas is not carrying any fresh injuries after worrying footage emerged of Brisbane’s pack leader.

Haas was limping badly in the final minutes of Brisbane’s shock 22-20 loss to Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

The Broncos prop has been nursing a back injury for weeks which has resulted in referred pain down his legs, among quadriceps and groin complaints.

In his first game following a two-week break since the Origin decider, Haas left the warm-up early to receive extra massage before kick-off.

He played 28 minutes in his opening stint then spent 30 minutes off the field, plus the halftime break, before returning for the final 22 minutes.

His 50-minute effort was down on his average of 60 minutes-a-game this season, but he still managed 14 runs for 126m - the most of any Brisbane forward.

Haas made some big charges late in the game to nearly help the Broncos snatch victory, but became entangled with Eels forward Charlie Guymer in the 79th minute and reeled out of the innocuous collision.

“There is an issue for the Broncos - Payne Haas is limping,” Fox League commentator Cooper Cronk observed.

“He can barely move, he has got issues, he can’t move.”

Haas lay on the turf as play moved upfield and was struggling to move at fulltime, but Maguire said his No. 1 prop did not sustain any fresh injuries.

“It’s just Payne putting his body on the line,” he said.

“He’s right, I spoke to him, he’s okay.

“He’s just got a temperamental body at the moment which he’s sorting through.

“That’s just ‘Payno’. His challenge at the minute is to get himself rolling.”

Payne Haas talks to the trainer during the match against Parramatta.

Despite his injury struggles, Haas has produced some spirited performances for the Broncos and NSW Blues this season.

But just how long he can keep putting himself through the ringer remains to be seen, especially with the significant pain he appeared to be experiencing on Friday night.

Maguire faces a delicate juggling act to keep Haas on the field and performing at his best ahead of Friday night’s showdown with South Sydney at Suncorp.

Broncos hooker Billy Walters said it was hard to see Haas wincing on the field.

“He’s the ultimate professional and to be honest, it’s pretty hard,” he said.

“He seems like he’s only going at 50 per cent and he’s still one of the best props of the game.

“I’m out there slugging away trying to be the best and I’m injury-free and can do nowhere near anything he does.

“I’m so happy he’s on our team. He’s a freak, he is a one-in-a-generation player and I am so glad he’s on my team.”

SU’A’S SEASON LOOKS TO BE OVER

The Dragons 2025 season goes from bad to worse with fears that representative backrower Jaydn Su’A will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury following a tackle from Cowboys forward Karl Lawton.

In yet another major injury blow for Saints, Su’A has suffered a suspected MCL injury, with the initial diagnosis from club medical staff that the backrower will miss the next four to six weeks.

Jaydn Su’a left the field in Round 21 after suffering a knee injury. No report from Dragons medical staff as yet on initial assessments.

Video shows contact mechanism with tackler coming down on outside of lower leg causing knee to collapse in.

Main concern for MCL injury - if… pic.twitter.com/6jyeUXYclB

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 25, 2025

Lawton was placed on-report in the 51st minute on Friday night in Townsville for dangerous contact after attacking Su’A legs.

The tackle will come under the microscope of the NRL match review committee, particularly given Lawton has recently returned from two-match suspension for a dangerous tackle on Roosters forward Siua Wong.

Jaydn Su'A receives treatment on his knee.

Lawton has been hit with a grade two dangerous contact charge which will see him miss two games with an early guilty plea. If he fights the charges and losses he will miss three matches.

Teammate Coen Hess has been fined $1800 for a high tackle on Mathew Feagai after being charged with a careless high tackle.

Meanwhile, Brisbane forward Brendan Piakura was also fined $1800 for his own grade one careless high tackle on Parramatta winger Zac Lomax for his 63rd minute high shot.

JAHROME HUGHES A CHANCE TO RETURN FOR FINALS DESPITE DISLOCATED SHOULDER

Melbourne star Jahrome Hughes could be back for the finals after initial testing suggested he would only be sidelined for six weeks.

Hughes still needs to undergo an MRI scan to check for further damage but there is now genuine hope in Melbourne that he could be back in time to join in the club’s premiership campaign.

Storm indicate Jahrome Hughes suffered a dislocated shoulder - textbook mechanism landing on outstretched arm.

General recovery guide:
- minimal structural damage/joint stable: trial rehab for 3-6 weeks
- significant damage/joint unstable: reco surgery & 3+ months pic.twitter.com/ZPrcIql9oy

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 24, 2025

Hughes dislocated his shoulder early in the second half of the club’s win over the Sydney Roosters on Thursday night and was rushed to hospital by ambulance after the club’s medical staff struggled to get the shoulder back in place.

Scans at the hospital revealed there was no damage to the bone and it is understood the initial prognosis is that Hughes will face a six-week recovery.

That should mean he is back on the field in time for the club to kick off their finals - they are currently in second spot.

Originally published as Casualty Ward: Broncos optimistic on Payne Haas injury, Jaydn Su’A’s season looks to be over