Oh the Payne! Broncos ready to make amends for 58-0 flogging

Payne Haas has seen fleeting glimpses of Brisbane’s loss to Parramatta but can’t bring himself to watch the entire game.

Payne Haas will play a pivotal role against the Eels with injuries depleting the Broncos pack Picture: Getty Images

Payne Haas has seen fleeting glimpses of Brisbane’s loss to Parramatta in last year’s finals series. He can’t bring himself to watch the entire game.

No doubt, many of his teammates feel the same.

That embarrassing defeat at Bankwest Stadium, Haas insists, won’t be a motivation on Thursday night as the Broncos host the Eels at Suncorp Stadium in a game that will mark the return of rugby league from COVID-19.

His only motivation is winning a premiership and Parramatta simply represent the latest hurdle.

“We know what happened last year and it sucked a bit,” Haas said.

“This year is a new year and we don’t need that for motivation. Trying to win a premiership is enough motivation for us. We know how hard Parra are going to be tomorrow. We know we have to be on our game or they will come out here and touch us up.

“I have seen glimpses of (last year’s loss) but I can’t watch all of it. Obviously if you know me I am a competitor and I hate losing. To lose like that in my first finals game, there was a bit of frustration. You have to deal with it and move on. It did hurt.”

Captain Alex Glenn added: “It was a long off-season, let’s put it that way. To finish our season the way we did is something that hurt deep in the soul. We used that … to fuel the flame inside us to make sure every training session, every rep we are doing, we are competing the best we can and to never give up on our teammates.

“But when we come up against Parramatta there is no revenge. It’s all about making sure we pick up where we left.”

The Broncos looked as though they had moved on before the competition was shut down, winning their opening two games behind a powerful forward pack and the improved organisation of Brodie Croft.

Two crucial members of that forward pack will be absent at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night — David Fifita is injured and Tevita Pangai is suspended.

Their absence is mitigated by the return of Matt Lodge from a knee issue that at one point caused concern his season could be over.

Lodge is expected to play limited minutes as he slowly works his way back but his leadership is a crucial factor for the Broncos.

“I think that is credit to Lodgey,” Haas said, speaking in his role as a Fox League ambassador. “He worked really hard to get back and play footy. It shows how professional he went about it. Credit to Lodge for coming back this week. No one expected it. Shows how determined and professional he was.”

Lodge wasn’t the only one working hard after the game was shut down. Haas moved out of the home in Brisbane he shares with Fifita and relocated to the Gold Coast and the family home.

Stories abound of a young Haas and the brutal training sessions he went through under the watchful eye of his father Gregor.

Back under his parent’s roof, those training sessions resumed. At the same time, Haas was going through Ramadan.

“I was pretty glad that Ramadan came around so I couldn’t eat as much as I wanted to,” Haas said.

“I went back home to the Gold Coast with my parents and my dad trained us hard. I trained every day with my brothers. Credit to my dad, he made sure I stayed fit and ready to go when we came back.

“I was running up the hills. We were back at it again. It is hard training every time I train with him. I feel pretty good. I can’t wait to play footy. Being away from the boys for the last few weeks was pretty hard. It is good to be back now and I am grateful and happy we are.”