Haas caused a stir in Brisbane’s camp after leaving training early.
The Broncos have downplayed concerns over Payne Haas’ fitness after the star prop briefly unsettled the team by exiting Wednesday’s training session ahead of schedule. Haas entered the season under a cloud of uncertainty following ankle surgery in January but showed no signs of struggle during Brisbane’s dominant round-one victory over the Roosters.
However, when Haas was seen leaving Red Hill training roughly 45 minutes before the rest of the squad, speculation arose about a possible injury setback. It was later revealed that the NSW and Kangaroos front-rower—who is also a devout Muslim—was granted an early departure due to his observance of Ramadan, a holy month requiring fasting from sunrise to sunset.
Having adhered to Ramadan for the past two weeks, Haas’ man-of-the-match performance against the Roosters was even more remarkable. He racked up 142 running meters, broke 11 tackles, and provided a brilliant try assist for Cory Paix. Given the humid post-flood conditions in Brisbane, coach Michael Maguire opted to let Haas leave early to aid his recovery.
The Broncos enforcer also skipped his scheduled media duties, but teammate Kobe Hetherington reassured fans there was no cause for concern. “He had to go home—he’s doing Ramadan and has been pretty full-on lately,” Hetherington said after stepping in for Haas. “He played through it last week, and I don’t know how, but he’s a different kind of athlete. Payne gives 100 percent every week and always delivers big numbers. He just needed a bit of rest.”
In 2025, Ramadan runs from the evening of February 28 to March 30, meaning Haas will continue fasting through games against the Raiders, Cowboys, and Dolphins. However, he has proven his ability to balance religious commitments with peak performance, regularly delivering standout displays during previous Ramadan periods.
Haas Adapting to a New Role Under Maguire
This season, Maguire is deploying Haas differently than former Broncos coach Kevin Walters, giving him a planned break before halftime rather than pushing him to play extended minutes. This strategy is reportedly unrelated to Ramadan and is instead aimed at maximizing the 25-year-old’s impact by ensuring he stays fresh.
Additionally, Haas is expected to incorporate more offloads into his game in 2025, an aspect he has previously underutilized. Against the Roosters, he managed four offloads—suggesting a more dynamic attacking approach that will make Brisbane even more dangerous.
A five-time Broncos Player of the Year, Haas is widely regarded as the NRL’s best prop, with his agility and power setting him apart. If he adds consistent offloading to his arsenal, the Broncos will become an even greater force. “He’s a freak of nature,” Hetherington said. “He just keeps improving.”
Heading into round two, Maguire has named an unchanged side for Brisbane’s clash with the Raiders, sticking with the same squad that dismantled the Roosters. Canberra, meanwhile, has made a few forced changes, with Josh Papalii replacing the suspended Joseph Tapine in the starting lineup and Albert Hopoate returning to the wing.
