By Nick Wright
Broncos marquee man Payne Haas is confident coach Michael Maguire has the tools to transform this young Brisbane squad into “men”, but revealed a once-maligned NRL star had added his voice to the club’s revival mission.
Todd Carney, who claimed the 2010 Dally M Medal with the Sydney Roosters, endured a tumultuous career in which – at his best – he became one of the NRL’s leading playmakers.
He ultimately proved his own worst enemy, exiled from the game following several alcohol-related incidents from his time with the Canberra Raiders and Cronulla Sharks.
Todd Carney (centre) addressed the Broncos playing group.Credit: Steve Christo
But Carney has turned over a new leaf, reportedly going sober and getting involved with coaching at schools on the Gold Coast, before taking on a junior pathways role with the Titans.
The Broncos have endured a year plagued by negative headlines – culminating in five-eighth Ezra Mam’s drug and unlicensed driving charges after an incident in which three people were injured.
The concerns were enough for Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy to admit there were cultural problems which needed to be eradicated if they were to make their way back to premiership contention.
Speaking at the launch of the Broncos’ KIA Full of Kindness Initiative, encouraging Brisbane residents to donate Christmas gifts to dealerships across the region, Haas said Carney’s self-reinvention had resonated deeply with the squad.
“He’s gone through lots of things and experiences that he shared with us. We are young players, and he was young at the time as well, so he was just sharing his experiences and what we should watch out for,” Haas said.
“Just thinking about your decisions before you even do it [was the main message]. It could really affect your career, especially if you’re not thinking about it.”
Payne Haas on Todd Carney’s speech
“It’s a privilege to be in the position we are, and little things can add up to big things. I followed Toddy’s career, I used to love him as a player, and to see the man he is now is pretty cool.”
Haas was confident Maguire’s influence was already beginning to rub off on the young Broncos playing group, believing he had the tools to help them “be men” and more upfront and honest about their direction as a team.
Payne Haas cuts a dejected figure as the Brisbane Broncos suffer an embarrassing defeat to the Dolphins.Credit: NRL Photos
The 25-year-old already got a taste of what the Maguire regime would entail when the pair joined forces in State of Origin camp – the coach orchestrating the star prop’s finest series in a Blues jumper.
Haas returned to preseason training two weeks ahead of his scheduled comeback, and revealed the Lisfranc injury which kept him to just 14 games last season and required surgery was now behind him.
While he admitted it was difficult to see former coach Kevin Walters suffer the axe, having considered the club champion a key reason behind his re-signing until the end of 2026, he was adamant the side would relish the disciplinarian challenge thrown at them by Maguire.
“All the boys are buying in. It has been tough, but all the boys are getting around each other and helping each other improve every day,” Haas said.
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