NEWS 'Always a blessing': Haas boosts Broncos and NSW

Payne Haas says his six-week break from playing is a "blessing in disguise" as he prepares to revive Brisbane's shaky start to the 2026 season.

The return of the Broncos prop against St George Illawarra at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday from a grade-three medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury has positive implications for the Broncos and NSW.

When fit, Haas has been a must-pick for the Blues ever since making his Origin debut in 2019 and there seems no doubt NSW coach Laurie Daley will bring him into the side for game two of the series in Melbourne.

The Blues were out-muscled up front early in their 22-20 win on Wednesday night as the Maroons took a 20-0 lead.

The addition of Haas will only improve the Broncos' chances of making a move up the ladder in the second half of the season.

They are sitting 11th, only two points outside the top eight, and have Haas and fellow 2025 premiership-winning forward Brendan Piakura set to return against the Dragons.

"It's been a blessing in disguise," Haas said of his layoff.

"Being injured, I've just been sitting back observing and having a look at where we can improve as a team and as an individual and been looking at my own self and my own game.

"I can't wait to show what I've been trying to work on. I'm 100 per cent. I'm ready to go."

Haas didn't go into detail about the area in his own game that is set to go to another level. He focused on the team. The Broncos gave away the first nine penalties in their Magic Round-loss to the Warriors and it is clearly an area they must improve,

"Discipline is the key and intensity," Haas said.

"I feel like against the Warriors we probably didn't match their intensity as we should have, and obviously discipline is really hurting us with and without the ball.

"If we can fix those things this week it gives us a big shot at winning the game."

Haas is too humble to say he will be in the Blues squad for Origin, but fit and healthy he will be.

"When we get there we'll cross that bridge," he said.

"To play for your state is always a blessing and it's a huge honour but for now I'm just worried about Broncos and doing my job for the boys here.

"I'll just stay present here, worry about my footy here.

"Obviously we're in a bit of a slump at the moment, so I just want to get back to playing Broncos footy and try and get the win this week."

Haas watched the Blues comeback in his Brisbane home. It was an epic effort, even with the Maroons down a man for the final quarter of the match after Kalyn Ponga was sent off.

"I was a bit nervous until KP got sent off, after that happened I was pretty confident," Haas said.

"I'm just glad the boys got the win, they stuck tough and they got the win so that's all that matters."

Canberra Times

 

[broncos4life]

Just **** off to Souths now Haas. Even if he plays great for the rest of his time here I just can't get behind him anymore. Nearly every year the contract sagas, the way he handled signing at Souths and all his other shit I just can't wait to see the back of him.

 

[Cult]

I'd let him go to Souths early if we can bring back Tyson Smoothy with the rest of his money.

 

[_wwong]

By name and by nature, just a pain in the arse.

 

[tommy]

The funny thing is he is going to souths partly for money but it’s for the bloke who tried ripping him off when he first signed with us Bennett. He had hardly played a game when Bennett gave him a 5 year contract for 500k or something. He knew what he was going to become and tried to grab himself a bargain.

 

[Big Del]

The funny thing is he is going to souths partly for money but it’s for the bloke who tried ripping him off when he first signed with us Bennett. He had hardly played a game when Bennett gave him a 5 year contract for 500k or something. He knew what he was going to become and tried to grab himself a bargain.

So , then when he became the best player at the club and wanted to get paid accordingly he was a drama queen and should piss off else where ?

 

[tommy]

So , then when he became the best player at the club and wanted to get paid accordingly he was a drama queen and should piss off else where ?

Not necessarily. I think he was being paid accordingly. He would have had a harder time getting more cash out of Wayne back then though.

 

[Swordfish]

As for mine, definitely not a fan of how it all panned out. It’s always a drama with his contracts but he has made his bed for next year and beyond which, is not here.
For this year, his bed is here in Redhill so, I want him to sweat, toil hard, play with intent, mongrel and go superhuman mode for the rest of the season he plays here.

I don’t care how he goes beyond this year. He wanted to move away so be it.

He’s talk is all good let’s see if he can go past the talk by his performance on field for us from here on.

 

[Volvo Driver]

As for mine, definitely not a fan of how it all panned out. It’s always a drama with his contracts but he has made his bed for next year and beyond which, is not here.
For this year, his bed is here in Redhill so, I want him to sweat, toil hard, play with intent, mongrel and go superhuman mode for the rest of the season he plays here.

I don’t care how he goes beyond this year. He wanted to move away so be it.

He’s talk is all good let’s see if he can go past the talk by his performance on field for us from here on.

I agree.

Contract saga aside he's always played at 100% and you can never question his effort. As long as he wears a Broncos jersey I'll back him.

This is professional sport in 2026 and players come and go to either make more money or get a better opportunity. As long as they put in I don't care what happens after the season finishes.

 

[Alec]

Despite all the injuries, the Broncos should still be able to compete for the comp at full strength. I'm still all on the Haas train as long as he's a Broncos player.

 

[Allo]

Despite all the injuries, the Broncos should still be able to compete for the comp at full strength. I'm still all on the Haas train as long as he's a Broncos player.

Yep while the timing wasn’t great, it’s out of the way and it’s sorted now. His contract shenanigans over the years were annoying, but he’s either learned from it, or the decision was made for him almost so there was no angle to up the price. He probably also knew Brisbane weren’t going to go through it again.

But that aside, he’s given us a lot through the hard years, has a premiership, and unless he gives me a reason to wish he doesn’t get a second, I have no issue with cheering him on for the rest of the season now.