‘Managed’ Haas on track for Broncos’ clash with Souths
Joel Gould |
Brisbane are managing the workload of prop Payne Haas but won’t rest him from games and training for the sake of it as he continues to handle a back complaint with typical stoicism.
The NSW front-rower is on track to play against South Sydney on Friday night after training with the Broncos on Monday.
Haas has been coping with a lower back issue for most of the season but that hasn’t stopped him shining for the Broncos and the Blues.
The 25-year-old warhorse was limping at the end of the 22-20 loss to Parramatta on Friday night after a knock to the ankle but scans weren’t required and he trained on Monday.
Broncos head of football Troy Thomson, who was high performance manager for the premiership-winning Rabbitohs in 2014 and world champion Australian side, said the Broncos would continue to manage Haas’s training for his own individual needs.
“If Payne can’t play a game of footy of course we are going to give him a rest, but this whole notion that giving him a rest is going to fix him is not how the human body works,” Thomson told AAP.
“Movement helps recovery. If you don’t move, you get sorer.
“We are managing Payne’s loads, like we do all of the players on an individual basis to ensure they are fresh enough but also have sufficient fitness, strength, flexibility and range of motion to play week-in and week-out NRL.
“It is about ensuring they have the right stimulus … and volume and intensity of load as well.”
Thomson said merely resting Haas for a fortnight would lead to a de-conditioning of the muscles that support his back.
Broncos hooker Billy Walters told reporters after Friday’s loss that Haas continued to defy pain and discomfort for the sake of the side.
“He’s the ultimate professional,” Walters said.
“He seems like he’s only going at 50 per cent and he’s still one of the best props of the game.
“I’m out there slugging away trying to be the best and I’m injury-free and can do nowhere near anything he does.
“He’s a freak. He is a one-in-a-generation player and I am so glad he’s on my team.”
Haas was given a week’s break after the Origin series by coach Michael Maguire, missing the round 19 win against Gold Coast, but is an integral part of Brisbane’s push for a finals berth.
Brisbane gave Haas just 49 minutes of action against Parramatta – his equal shortest stint of the season.
He has played 16 games this season and lined up in all of the Broncos’ games apart from the Titans clash and one other match against Canterbury when he was on Origin duty.
AAP
