CONSISTENTLY one of the best forwards in the National Rugby League (NRL), the Brisbane Broncos’ prop forward Payne Haas, who stands 194cm tall and weighs 117kg, of Filipino, Swiss and Samoan heritage, has signed a $3.5 million extension contract to play for the Broncos until the end of 2026.
Haas had been weighing up offers from ten NRL clubs, plus scholarship offers from American football college teams.
Haas took home the Dally M Prop of the Year award in 2021 as well as four awards at the Broncos’ presentation night, including his third-straight Paul Morgan Player of the Year Medal.
2021 saw Haas rack up 1485.1 post-contact metres, 68 tackle breaks, a 97.5% tackle efficiency, and an average of 168 running metres per game.
Haas has already represented NSW in the State of Origin seven times, and Australia twice on the international stage.
He has become the first player in Brisbane Broncos history to win five-consecutive Player of the Year awards, edging Adam Reynolds, Reece Walsh and Patrick Carrigan for the gong on awards presentation night.
It caps a sensational year for Haas, who was rewarded with his Australian Kangaroos debut when Mal Meninga announced his squad for the Pacific Championships on Tuesday.
Haas averaged 187 running metres per game in 2023, with an average of 72 post-contact metres. He also made an average of 29 tackles per game at 99 per cent efficiency.
Haas also won the most consistent player, best forward and players’ player at Thursday’s awards night. The awards night success will come as some solace after a crushing loss in the grand final against Penrith.
The Broncos were up 24-8 with 20 minutes remaining and appeared to have one hand on the trophy. But Nathan Cleary put the Panthers on his back and produced an absolute masterclass for a 26-24 comeback victory.
It marked the biggest deficit ever overcome in an NRL grand final.
The front-rower won his fifth best and fairest award at the club’s presentation night, among three other awards he scooped.
Haas received 80 votes to win the award for the fifth year running, ahead of Reynolds (64), Walsh (51) and Carrigan (35).
In doing so, the NSW and Australia representative joined Allan Langer as the club’s only five-time winners of the award.
But Haas has gone one better than Langer, who didn’t win his five awards consecutively. The legendary halfback won four on the trot from 1993 to 1996, after winning his first in 1988.
Haas averaged 187 running metres per game in 2023, with an average of 72 post-contact metres. He also made an average of 29 tackles per game at 99 per cent efficiency.
He also won awards comprising the Most Consistent Player, Best Forward, and Players’ Player.
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Picture:
HAAS BROTHERS Payne, left, and Klese, right.
