Blues hopefuls Paulo, Haas top VB Hard Earned performers
Junior Paulo and Payne Haas both possess huge engines and could form a NSW front-row alliance next month.
The pair finished first and second on the VB Hard Earned index for round nine with mammoth scores of 98 and 96 respectively.
The average index score for a prop is 57.8 – so the duo performed levels above the baseline of hard work for their position.
Eels prop Paulo, who made his Origin debut last year, had 22 carries in a win over the Roosters including 15 runs where he gained eight or more metres. He also produced 23 tackles and four offloads.
With his form part of the reason that Parramatta have lost only one match in 2021, Paulo looks set to again feature for the Blues.
And Broncos enforcer Haas, a four-time Origin player who debuted in 2019, has been impressive since returning from a ban.
Haas was suspended for the opening three weeks of the competition but has been key to Brisbane's recent improvement.
In a 19-18 loss to the Cowboys on Saturday, Haas had 16 carries (14 for eight or more metres) and broke eight tackles while making 38.
Meanwhile, Dragons centre Jack Bird and his Broncos counterpart Herbie Farnworth smashed the baseline score (40) for their position – each recording 72 on last weekend's index.
Another notable performance was that of Storm fullback Nicho Hynes, who can lay claim to the title of support specialist after contributing 11 supports in his team's 50-0 romp over the Rabbitohs.
Penrith are dominating the overall leaderboard, with ever-consistent prop James Fisher-Harris remaining at the top while winger Brian To'o is back in second and lock Isaah Yeo a close fourth.
Incredibly, To'o is the only back ranked inside the top 15. Warriors custodian Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is next in 18th spot.
To'o posted a score of 82 in Friday's big win against the Sharks.
