NEWS 'Tis the season for giving Broncos fans fresh hope under Madge

Payne Haas has welcomed the arrival of his former Origin coach Michael Maguire to Red Hill, saying he has brought with him a focus on honesty that will help get the best from the playing group.

Haas said working with Maguire through the successful Blues' 2024 Origin campaign has helped him get accustomed to the way he operates and the standards he would set for the group.

“We are a young group and (the difference Maguire has brought is) just being men about being honest and up front to each other," Haas said.

"That’s what we are taking away this pre-season and all the boys are buying in and having a red-hot crack... all the boys are buying in and it has been a good pre-season so far.

"It has been tough, but all the boys are getting around each other and helping each other improve every day. That’s all that matters.

"I know what Madge brings and what he expects of us players which has made it easier to transition from another coach.

“I’ve gone through about three coaches now, so I am used to it all. It’s been good under Madge so far… everyone is hungry, everyone is pretty driven.“

After recently welcoming home his second child, Haas was doing his best impression of Santa as part of a Broncos Christmas initiative, before telling media he was back fully fit after an injury-ravaged 2024 season.

Playing only 14 games after a long lay-off with a Lisfranc injury and missing the final round of the year with a foot issue which required surgery, Haas has returned to the training paddock fit and firing.

Injuries really tested the depth of the Broncos during their disappointing 2024 season but Haas was heartened to see what emerging forwards like Xavier Willison, who had his own injuries battles, were doing in pre-season.

“It has been good being back at full training with all the boys and getting in the grind, so I have been really liking it," Haas said.

"I am confident (in our forward depth). These boys have been ripping in all pre-season and it has made me real confident these past few weeks seeing the boys excel and really improving their footy.

"I am more confident going into the season.

"X has been one of the best trainers week-in, week-out and is training really hard.

"I am trying to lead by my actions and show them (the other forwards) that if you work hard good things happen on the footy field.

"I am just trying to show that and I know they are trying to do that as well."

At 25, Haas is one of the more experienced players at the Broncos and is looking forward to the arrival of Ben Hunt to add leadership to the squad.

Hunt is set to join the squad in mid-December and is expected to start next season alongside Adam Reynolds, making the Brisbane duo the oldest halves pairing in the competition.

“You look at the names, Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds. To have them both in the team is pretty cool," Haas said.

"They can steer the ship and we just have to worry about our own jobs.

“We still have a long way to go until Round 1, but I can’t wait to have Dozer on the field and training with us and we will work on combinations. I know they will get that right and we just worry about out jobs in the middle.”

NRL.com

 

[Sproj]

Maybe we should target their coach then?

Agreed, I don't think we've ever even tried to get him.

 

[theshed]

Why....because he's the latest media flavour of the month and has done a couple interviews?

C'mon.....

Based on that criteria, maybe Jesse Arthurs should get the gig.

Nah because he’s a fucking animal who has shown exemplary dedication to maintaining a high standard in performance for 6-7 years. He’s won like 80% of bronco player of the year awards that he’s been eligible.

He’s the best player in the world in his position. He holds ultimate respect. He is the perfect captain to have under a coach who demands effort.

All while having one of the worst personal lives you could possibly imagine.

He’s made some errors in his life, he’s probably still flawed in many ways, but this is a man’s sport and the guy is one of the biggest dogs in the game.

Locky was an incredible captain and had plenty of hidden off-field issues. So was Michael Jordan.

The only caveat I’d give Haas when handing him the captain is that he needs to be the first guy getting involved when one of our players get disrespected on field.

 

[Wolfie]

Nah because he’s a fucking animal who has shown exemplary dedication to maintaining a high standard in performance for 6-7 years. He’s won like 80% of bronco player of the year awards that he’s been eligible.

He’s the best player in the world in his position. He holds ultimate respect. He is the perfect captain to have under a coach who demands effort.

All while having one of the worst personal lives you could possibly imagine.

He’s made some errors in his life, he’s probably still flawed in many ways, but this is a man’s sport and the guy is one of the biggest dogs in the game.

Locky was an incredible captain and had plenty of hidden off-field issues. So was Michael Jordan.

The only caveat I’d give Haas when handing him the captain is that he needs to be the first guy getting involved when one of our players get disrespected on field.

I dont think he's captain material personally because there is always going to be a circus around him with either his family or his next contract issue.

Taking my Carrigan tongue in cheek fanboy glasses off for a second, the captain needs to be the face of the club and there is a reason Pat is the face of the club with a lot of the sponsors and even with things like Kayo and not the likes of Haas or even Walsh.

I'm not convinced either that Payne is cut out to be the face of the club which you need to be if you are going to be the captain. For me, he's probably better suited to being a key part of the leadership group going forward. You dont need to be the one wearing the armband to influence the playing group and have their respect. The good teams have leaders everywhere.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Nah because he’s a fucking animal who has shown exemplary dedication to maintaining a high standard in performance for 6-7 years. He’s won like 80% of bronco player of the year awards that he’s been eligible.

He’s the best player in the world in his position. He holds ultimate respect. He is the perfect captain to have under a coach who demands effort.

All while having one of the worst personal lives you could possibly imagine.

He’s made some errors in his life, he’s probably still flawed in many ways, but this is a man’s sport and the guy is one of the biggest dogs in the game.

Locky was an incredible captain and had plenty of hidden off-field issues. So was Michael Jordan.

The only caveat I’d give Haas when handing him the captain is that he needs to be the first guy getting involved when one of our players get disrespected on field.

Fair enough ......to a degree, but lets be honest, over the last couple of days/weeks is the most sense we've heard out of Payne.
He's reportedly not a talker on the field.....(?)
Yes, actions speak louder than words, but he's the skipper....he needs to talk to the team
and call me crazy, but I still question his loyalty to the club.

Patty seems to have all of the above in spades....... he seems to me to be the logical next choice
BUT
based on the teams past performances.....with him as skipper, he hasn't exactly found a winning formula.

I think they'll be an outcry against a perceived NSW favouritism shown by McGuire if it happens that Hass the next skipper........

 

[Big Del]

. For me, he's probably better suited to being a key part of the leadership group going forward. You dont need to be the one wearing the armband to influence the playing group and have their respect. The good teams have leaders everywhere.

We don`t wear arm bands in League bro .

 

[theshed]

I dont think he's captain material personally because there is always going to be a circus around him with either his family or his next contract issue.

Taking my Carrigan tongue in cheek fanboy glasses off for a second, the captain needs to be the face of the club and there is a reason Pat is the face of the club with a lot of the sponsors and even with things like Kayo and not the likes of Haas or even Walsh.

I'm not convinced either that Payne is cut out to be the face of the club which you need to be if you are going to be the captain. For me, he's probably better suited to being a key part of the leadership group going forward. You dont need to be the one wearing the armband to influence the playing group and have their respect. The good teams have leaders everywhere.

I love Patty but he’s got that private school, soft voice, tik tok coded vibe going on.

Patty is obviously the more marketable, clean cut, articulate option. As captain, he reminds me of Alex Glenn. Except with far better on field performances.

 

[Wolfie]

I love Patty but he’s got that private school, soft voice, tik tok coded vibe going on.

Patty is obviously the more marketable, clean cut, articulate option. As captain, he reminds me of Alex Glenn. Except with far better on field performances.

Payne not a great talker though is he!

Tbf, i think Payne has developed a lot over the last couple of years in terms of leadership. I think at one stage he thought he was probably bigger than the club when he asked for that release and he looked genuinely shocked and confused that people booed him for it. Still puzzles me to this day what he was thinking and what he expected to happen.

We need to solidify a good leadership group now under Madge. It feels to me its been a bit neglected under Kevvie. Be interesting to see how we go now because while there was never any bad blood in the playing group, it was certainly a bit cliquey and they need bringing together.

Sadly though, we can never let the likes of Payne and Kotoni anywhere near it. No Blues allowed. Luckily, we still have Billy on board.

 

[theshed]

Payne not a great talker though is he!

Tbf, i think Payne has developed a lot over the last couple of years in terms of leadership. I think at one stage he thought he was probably bigger than the club when he asked for that release and he looked genuinely shocked and confused that people booed him for it. Still puzzles me to this day what he was thinking and what he expected to happen.

We need to solidify a good leadership group now under Madge. It feels to me its been a bit neglected under Kevvie. Be interesting to see how we go now because while there was never any bad blood in the playing group, it was certainly a bit cliquey and they need bringing together.

Sadly though, we can never let the likes of Payne and Kotoni anywhere near it. No Blues allowed. Luckily, we still have Billy on board.

it’s a petty thing, but for me a real indicator of the importance Kev put on leadership was that game when whoever was captain was off the field and TPJ yelled at the ref. The ref said “who’s your captain. are you the captain?” And TPJ looked around a bit and goes “yeah”

 

[Cult]

I don’t even think Payne is the best at his position. Hes the fittest, but he can’t claim being he best until he can offload like he did in that Dragons game, dominate other forward packs in defence and win something.