Payne Haas was visibly shaken.
Roughly 48 hours after his camp requested an immediate release from Brisbane as contract negotiations exploded, Broncos fans booed the megastar prop relentlessly in his first game since the ordeal.
As the 22-year-old stood at the centre of Suncorp Stadium and chatted to Broncos director and former Brisbane captain Darren Lockyer on Nine’s post-match coverage, he made a raw admission.
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“I’m usually not one to get rattled, but when I heard the boos coming out tonight (and) when I got onto the ball it rattled me a bit,” Haas said on Friday night.
“But I had to compose myself and just stay in the game and do my job for the team.”
Lockyer, wearing a slight grin, offered Haas assurance.
“That’ll die down, that’ll die down,” he said.
Haas was hit with a chorus of boos from Broncos supporters every time he touched the ball, as well as when he returned from the bench in the 51st minute.
Haas produced a typically instrumental performance, producing 128 run metres and 26 tackles in a 35-24 comeback win.
The New South Welshman also inspired his teammates with a mighty defensive play in the 52nd minute, dragging Gold Coast fullback Jayden Campbell back into the Titans’ in-goal area to force a drop-out.
Moments earlier, Manly great Paul Vautin had launched a passionate defence of Haas.
“I wish they’d stop booing Payne Haas,” Vautin said.
“I mean, honestly. He and his (management) team made a big mistake, but you know, he’s playing his heart out for you, fans. Just drop off.”
Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston said the booing must have left Haas “hurting”.
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When Broncos coach Kevin Walters was asked about the frosty reception, he drew attention to a colourful moment involving Queensland State of Origin captain Daly Cherry-Evans.
The Maroons skipper was booed by Queensland fans as he addressed the Cbus Super Stadium crowd after game three of the 2021 Origin series.
It’s not known if Cherry-Evans was booed because of Queensland’s series defeat or his infamous contract backflip on the Titans in 2015, but he was booed by the Maroons faithful nonetheless.
“DCE has come here before playing for Queensland and got booed,” Walters said as Kurt Capewell, filling in as Broncos captain, chimed in.
“We love our fans; they’re passionate,” Capewell said with a laugh.
“We weren’t too worried about it at all.
“We obviously knew it was happening.
“Payno wrote us a message and said, ‘Boys, I’m fully committed to you guys. Let’s go out and get the win this weekend’, and we done the job.
“He’s fully committed to the game. Did you see his efforts tonight? You tell me if he’s fully committed.”
Haas is contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2024 and is earning about $800,000 a year, but he’s insistent on becoming a $1 million player.
He’s expected to line up for New South Wales in game one of the Origin series in Sydney on June 8.
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