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

 

[Wolfie]

I don't see the appeal of Payne beyond trying to keep him happy.

His off-field behaviour doesn't inspire confidence and even on the field he suffers from tunnel vision. He'll do his job and pad up his numbers. However he often forgets the importance of a quick play the ball and just little things that help the team.

Plus, it would probably extend his minutes when both him and Patty ought to spend more time on the bench.

Also I want an apology over that brazen attack over Patty theshed. That was so mean and uncalled for even my feelings were hurt, I'm not sure how Wolfie kept it together.

Who said i did keep it together. Nobody knows what i could be planning.

 

[Foordy]

I think Reynolds will retain the captaincy for 2025. Although, Madge may look to appoint his eventual successor as co-captain.

FWIW, nothing has changed my mind about who that successor should be ... It Patty by the length of the straight.

 

[Fitzy]

Honestly the more and more I see and hear of Patty and mind you I’m a fair bit younger than most of you lot probably are the more I see a self absorbed, ego driven, fuckboy that has figured out how to image himself.

Payne no doubt has had his issues but **** me has he ever persevered through them. Not many face the tribulations that Payne have and are positioned the way he is at 25. I have the utmost respect for everything he has done and for me it seems he is out here leading from the front, demanding an increase in levels from the players from day dot. I am 100% aware that Patty had the whole Kangaroos tour and it’s unreasonable to expect him to be there day 1 but Payne was injured and he was out there demanding train and trials mind you to work harder, addressing the squad, doing extras on top of his rehab to prove to Madge he was ready to join in as early as possible.


Don’t get me wrong I think Patty would be good but I think there is just something with Payne that you can see him leading and creating something really special as a leader. Sometimes you have to take a risk and to be honest I couldn’t think of a better character to lead this group. What Patty brings is already on the table I don’t think he can bring any more than he already does or could other than being a “great” image. But respectfully just cause he knows how to market himself doesn’t make him that good of a role model.

He is one of the few that has decided to live at Burleigh having no affiliation to the Gold Coast, he is notoriously a **** boy with consistent and continuously evolving rosters of casual partners, he is obsessed with his peak testosterone image, he hangs around the titans boys far to much which if you ever want to know anything about poor behaviour, standards, habits and culture deriving from off-field start with them. As much as there is some good and great qualities about him, I’m going to go as far as say Pat Carrigan represents and epitomises everything that is wrong with this group. You want a change in standards and improvements from what we have seen respectfully Pat Carrigan is not the man to bring you that. AT ALL. Might be unpopular opinion but yeah Pat just doesn’t fill me with as much confidence as he once did.

Payne on the other hand has well and truely overcome and persevered his off-field issues and has become an admirable leader, guardian and supporter of his brothers and kid (soon to be kids) alongside his partner, he posts his very quickly evolving family constantly as his pride and joy, he is beyond a role model considering the standards he sets at the club and what he does off-field is beyond a contrast to Pat. I will argue tooth and nail with anyone that wants to argue that Payne is not the utmost role model at that club. I’m not a Payne Haas fan boy by any means when it comes to pure footy my preference as a player leans towards Pat but at the end of the day Pat will always be his talkative self on the field. In every other regard I think Payne wins and wins comfortably. I back Madge’s call but if it was up to me I’d seriously consider and likely choose Payne.

 

[Mustafur]

I wouldn't mind Payne as co Captain but Reyno is still first choice for me.

Hunt could also be an option too, but being his first year back probably pegs him down a bit, maybe the season after.