WE’RE REIGN READY Haas is adamant Brisbane can end title drought
Superstar prop Payne Haas and coach Kevin Walters have fired a warning shot at the NRL, declaring Brisbane is primed to win this year’s premiership and bring the famous Panthers title dynasty crashing down.
Haas and Walters were in a bullish mood as the Broncos flew out of Brisbane on Thursday morning to begin their 2024 premiership assault against the Roosters in the NRL’s historic double header in Las Vegas.
The Broncos will jet into Los Angeles for a week-long camp at the training headquarters of NFL side the Rams before heading to Sin City for their round 1 clash with the Roosters at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday week.
There is a view the Broncos will be psychologically battered by the worst collapse in NRL grand final history against Penrith last season.
Haas’ forward teammate Jordan Riki admits he was left “sick” after Brisbane’s squad watched a replay of last year’s decider, in which the Broncos inexplicably blew a 24-8 lead with 16 minutes to play.
But Haas is adamant the Broncos are not broken and says Brisbane is ready to begin the climb to the premiership summit – starting against fellow title contenders the Roosters.
“I know we have the team to win the comp,” said Haas, Brisbane’s five-time Paul Morgan medallist. “It’s just a matter of how consistent we are each week and learning from what happened last year.
“I feel like we can learn from it. 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.It does motivate us, but if we think about it too much, then can you dwell on it and that’s not a good thing.
“We have a new focus.
“I can’t wait for Vegas. We are going to LA first for a week in camp, so it will be good to connect with the guys and get the two points in Vegas.”
Riki opened up about Brisbane’s final-quarter capitulation that saw the title dream become a nightmare.
“It was gut wrenching,” Riki said of Brisbane’s grand final loss. “I’ve never really felt heartbreak like that before.
“It genuinely is one of those moments. I felt sick. ‘Kevvie’ (Walters) asked the boys who had watched the grand final and about three boys put their hand up to say they had watched the game fully.
“For us to sit down as a team, it was a healing session for us, to go through it and watch it.
“It hurt every single guy in the room but it made us want to go out there and play and train harder. We believe we have the team to do it (win the title). We are willing to (work hard) again.”
The jury is out on the Broncos after an off-season of roster turbulence that has seen Brisbane lose four players from last year’s grand final squad.
Haas’ front-row partner-incrime Tom Flegler has joined the Dolphins, as has strike centre Herbie Farnworth, while versatile forward Keenan Palasia (Titans) and vice-skipper Kurt Capewell (Warriors) are other major losses. But Walters is a coach on a mission.
Traditionally reluctant to make predictions, Walters, a six-time premiership winner as a player, says the Broncos have the firepower to deny Penrith a fourth straight title and deliver Brisbane’s first since 2006.
“Definitely, I think we can (win the premiership), I strongly believe so,” Walters said. “It’s a big mixture of things. “We certainly have the talent to do it. There’s enough motivation there, I believe.
“We are a much better team from this point (last year) … our starting point this season is closer to where we want to get to, but reaching out to touch it (the premiership), it would feel pretty nice.”