Broncos prop Payne Haas said watching NSW lose the Ampol State of Origin series from his loungeroom “sucked” and described missing the dramatic decider as the toughest call of his career.
Haas made a commanding return from injury for the Broncos on Thursday night which included a try, 225 running metres and nine tackle busts after he missed the past three weeks due to shoulder injuries that required rest and rehabilitation.
The 22-year-old missed the Origin finale for NSW last week in a bid to get back to full fitness for the Broncos as they eye their first finals series since 2019.
Haas’s absence for the Blues was noticeable at Suncorp Stadium, particularly as the side struggle to make any yardage late in the contest when Queensland constantly peppered their line.
“It was tough, I don’t really want to talk about it [the result] but I hated it,” Haas said following his return game for the Broncos.
“There’s always next year and hopefully I get picked next year.
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"Footy-wise yeah [it was the toughest call of my career], choosing to take that break when knowing Origin was there but I had to do what was best for my health.
“I just didn’t feel right and wasn’t playing like myself. It didn’t feel 100 percent after the Cowboys game and it was probably best to have a few weeks off.
“You need to have that extra 10 percent in you, that’s all you need in big games and I felt like I’d have let down NSW. Even though it sucked to watch it.
“I got a bit frustrated, I was yelling at the TV a lot.”
Haas wasn’t too keen to offer his thoughts on the melee between Matt Burton and Dane Gagai that included a cameo from Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, who were all fined a portion of their match payment for the incident.
Haas and Fa'asuamaleaui came to blows during the 2020 series with the pair enjoying a fierce rivalry in recent years.
“I guess that’s Origin, I won’t say too much on it but that’s Origin,” Haas replied.
With the interstate series done and dusted for another year, Haas is looking to build on his mammoth effort against the Eels in the club’s surge towards the finals.
The Broncos prop has only featured in one finals match previously – a 58-0 loss to the Eels at CommBank Stadium in 2019 – with Thursday night’s result a promising sign the club’s woes are behind them.
“It’s good when you’re winning in Brisbane, the fans get behind you,” Haas said.
“They’ve done it when we were losing too so it’s good to be giving back to them and having Kevie and Alfie around it’s pretty cool.
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“I feel like I can [get better], I feel like I haven’t played my best all year so having performances like that is real pleasing.
“I just hold myself to a high standard, there’s not really goals. I don’t think I’ve been living up to that the last couple of months.
“I know I put in the work before the season started and it was just frustrating with little injuries.”