In an ominous warning, powerhouse prop Payne Haas says he has another level to reach in 2024 and insists Brisbane have the team to win this year's NRL premiership.
As the Broncos flew to Los Angeles on Thursday morning to prepare for the round-one clash with the Roosters in Las Vegas, the 24-year-old declared the disappointment of last year’s grand final won’t stop his side going one better this season.
Haas continues to set benchmarks at the Broncos that may never be beaten. He has won the Paul Morgan Medal as club player of the year for a record five consecutive seasons.
Through bad times and good, the Australian front-rower has been enormous.
The Broncos reviewed last year’s 26-24 season decider loss to Penrith early in the pre-season. Lessons were learned from giving up a 16-point lead, but they did not dent Haas’s belief in what was possible.
“I know we have the team to win the comp, it’s just a matter of how consistent we are each week and learning from what happened last year,” Haas said.
“Obviously, we did a review at the start of the year about the grand final and we just put it in the background.
“That was 2023 and we're now focusing on 2024. It's a new year and we are looking to go one better.
“(Last year’s loss to Penrith) does motivate us, but if we think about it too much you can dwell on it, and that's not a good thing.
"We have a new focus and I can't wait for this squad to play some good footy.
“I can't wait for Vegas. We are going to LA first for a week, so it will be good to connect with them and get the two points in Vegas."
Haas had a wicked offload when he was a schoolboy at Keebra Park High School. He didn’t showcase it as much in his early seasons in the NRL. Run hard, tackle hard. That was his mantra and it worked a treat.
Last year he unfurled 50 offloads, many of which led to tries, after showcasing 62 in his previous four seasons.
“Hopefully it does come out again this year, but at the end of the day front-rowers run and tackle hard. If I'm doing that well, then we'll go all right,” Haas said.
“I feel I can keep building on my game. I have been every year. We will see what I can bring this year.
"I am excited about this group and I know we can do something special.
"I'm hungry to get better. The day I get complacent is the day I will give up football.
"I'm always working hard and trying to be the best version of myself and my family. My work ethic never changes. I want success.”
Haas said Fletcher Baker, a new recruit from the Roosters, along with tyro Xavier Willison and veteran Corey Jensen were among contenders to fill the breach after the loss of last year’s grand final front-rowers Thomas Flegler (to the Dolphins) and Keenan Palasia (Gold Coast).
