Payne Haas put in one of the most remarkable performances for a front-rower in NRL history in the Broncos’ win over the Panthers, but it was his final act of the game that has fans stunned. The Broncos pulled off a sensational comeback in front of a raucous Suncorp crowd having scored 16 unanswered points to seal a 16-14 win.
Reece Walsh and Adam Reynolds had moments of magic in the final 10 minutes to seal the victory for the Broncos, but many pointed out it was Haas’ barnstorming efforts in the final 40 minutes that changed the game. Haas exploded in the second-half having played all 80 minutes in the front-row.
Payne Haas (pictured right ) has been praised for his 79th minute effort to stop Nathan Cleary in put in one of the most remarkable performances for a front-rower in NRL history. (Images: Channel Nine/Getty Images)
Haas made a whopping 46 tackles, but was unusually quiet in in the first 40 having made just a few runs. But this all changed in the second-half when the 25-year-old caused havoc. Haas finished with 182 running metres as the Panthers defenders raced in to stop the prop’s momentum.
And while Haas has been praised for his performance, his final effort of the game has gone largely unnoticed. The front-rower would have been feeling the impact of a frenetic game as the Panthers charged 60 metres up the field in search for two points to take the game into extra-time.
With 50 seconds to go, Cleary made a last second switch and charged back behind the 40-metre line to attempt a two-point field goal. The move caught many of the Broncos – and even the Penrith players – by surprise.
The ball hit the deck and bounced towards Cleary as the halfback looked to kick a game-saving drop-goal. But it was Haas who was the first Broncos player in the halfback’s face, which forced Cleary to pass to Dylan Edwards.
The Panthers fullback was rushed and was unable to get off a successful kick. Haas’ efforts after playing a full game was so impressive he received some special praise for the moment from fans.
Andrew Johns and Cameron Smith praise Broncos prop
Haas’ efforts across the full 80 minutes also didn’t go unnoticed from the Channel Nine commentary team. NRL legends Andrew Johns and Cameron Smith both praised Haas for two separate efforts.
With the Panthers leading 14-6 in the 66th minute, Cleary put in a kick behind the Broncos line. But Haas was one of the first Broncos players chasing the ball back to help out his teammates. “Looks who’s there again, look who’s there in cover, it’s Payne Haas,” Andrew Johns said during commentary. “He’s topped the tackle count, he’s ran for 162 metres, the closest to him in the starting forward pack is Jordan Riki with 57.”
And Smith was also in awe of the Broncos forward. After Haas’ 79th minute effort to chase down Cleary, the 25-year-old jumped up and cheered with his teammates. And Smith praised Haas’ ability to not go off for a rest against the Panthers in quick game on a warm afternoon. “He played 80, that’s just incredible,” Smith added at full-time.
Nathan Cleary praises Payne Haas after display
Speaking after the game, Cleary showed his class and praised his NSW Blues teammate for his efforts. And he remembered the moment Haas ran in to stop the grubber the halfback had kicked.
“He’s a freak, he’s great. I think at one stage there was a grubber into the in-goal and he was the one putting it down,” he said. “He just seems to turn up in positions that front-rowers shouldn’t. He’s fit and strong and fast, he’s a great player.”
Haas will be free to take on the Melbourne Storm in the NRL grand final. The Broncos will be hoping their front-rower puts in another player-of-the-match performance to help their team lift the trophy.
Both Andrew Johns and Cameron Smith reserved special praise for Payne Haas (pictured left) after his performance against the Panthers.