Haas, Fonua-Blake headline VB Hard Earned Team of the Year

Broncos prop Payne Haas has once again headlined the VB Hard Earned Index Team of the Year after finishing the 2023 season with 1,733 points from his 19 games at an average of 91.2 points per game.

Finishing just 12 points behind of Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake (1,745 points from 22 games), the in-form enforcers will set up a mouth-watering match-up in Brisbane on Saturday after headlining this year’s VB Index.

The two powerhouse props took their game to new heights this season, with Fonua-Blake featuring in the VB Team of the Week in 22 out of 27 rounds this year and Haas 19 – making them the two most consistent performers.

Fonua Blake finished the regular season leading the competition in post-contact metres (1,515) while Haas was closely behind at second (1,453) but the Blues powerhouse has created more second phase play, with 44 offloads so far in 2023.

Meanwhile, Titans forward David Fifita produced arguably the best year of his career and was rewarded with a spot in the VB Team of The Year’s second-row.

Fifita (1,380 points) came in sixth overall in the Index leader board after his consistent work-rate this season saw him nail a spot in the Team of the Week in 20 rounds this year.

Finishing the season with 130 tackle breaks – the fourth highest in the competition – and 41 offloads to continue his development as one of the best back rowers in the game, Fifita is a sign of promising times ahead for the Titans after signing a three-year extension.

The Panthers have also again showed why they’re still the team to beat in 2023, filling five of the 13 players in the Team of the Year run-on side.

Lock Isaah Yeo was rewarded for his consistent efforts up front this season, having wracked up a career high average run metres (157) and equal number of tackle breaks to 2018 (55) to lock down the No. 13 position.

Dynamic duo Sunia Turuva (1193) and Brian To’o bagsed an edge each in the Team of the Year, scoring 29 tries between them heading into Friday’s preliminary final against the Storm.

Blues flyer To’o has led another dominant season on the Penrith’s right edge, averaging over 200 run metres and over 4.5 tackle breaks in his 21 appearances this season.

While rookie of the year contender Turuva has done a fine job in the place of an injured Taylan May, breaking 113 tackles and making fifteen line breaks in 24 games.