Lazarus lights Origin torch for 'bionic man' Haas

There was only one Glenn Lazarus but NSW have high hopes Payne Haas, tagged around Broncos HQ as their "bionic man", can follow in his footsteps and develop into a powerhouse Origin forward.

Lazarus, a five-time premiership winner who was named in the NSW team of the century in the front row, is the only man in State of Origin history to represent the Blues as a prop while at the Broncos.

NSW recently picked Haas, who turned 19 on Sunday, in the 32-man Emerging Blues squad as a sign of the high regard the Blues already hold for him. If all goes to plan Haas will ensure the Broncos have at least two props on their historical list of NSW representatives soon.  

NSW assistant coach Danny Buderus told NRL.com that Lazarus was the epitome of a quality front-rower and a great example to the Broncos young gun.

"Glenn Lazarus is one that Payne Haas will be looking up to," Buderus said.

"You look at Lazarus and how many times he landed on his front and played the ball quickly and I know everyone in his team would have appreciated it.

"You need really good front-rowers to be a successful team and Lazarus was at the forefront and had success everywhere he went.

"If you wanted to find similarities between Payne and Glenn Lazarus it is their agility for huge men."

It is that agility that has blown away Broncos veteran Sam Tagataese who has been inspired by Haas's extraordinary training feats which include winning the 1.2km shuttle run at Brisbane training recently.

When asked whether Haas could be a 10-year representative forward, Tagataese went a step further in describing a player he believes to be unique.

"Payne Haas has got another 20 years in him. He is some machine," Tagataese said.

"I have been in the game a long time and I haven’t seen something like this.

"He is 120 kilos and running with outside backs. He must be bionic. I'm just glad he is part-Samoan."

It is that training ethic that Buderus noted in 2017 when he was the assistant coach of the NSW under 18s side and Haas was elevated to skipper for good reason.

"Payne is highly thought of here at NSW and we made him captain of the under 18s side to get the feel of being a leader and seeing himself as a leader," Buderus said.

"That was an important part of his progression and development. The main thing [that impressed] when he was with us was the way he trains.

"He can push through the pain barrier and understands how important training is and that is going to set his career up."

Tagataese said he and the more experienced Broncos would make sure Haas did not get ahead of himself. He added that was not likely to happen.

"We have seen many times with young athletes coming through that they can go pear shaped but hopefully we can guide him in the right direction and then it is up to him how he wants to take it," Tagataese said.

 "For his age he is quite mature, just seeing how he handles himself around the club and at training as well."