Brisbane Broncos enforcer Payne Haas has warned that he is warming into his best work after his man-of-the-match performance last weekend.
On Friday night, Brisbane will be the away side in their home ground as they battle rivals the Dolphins at Lang Park.
Coming off a 26-16 win over the Cowboys last week, the Broncos are set to welcome back State of Origin centre Kotoni Staggs.
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Staggs has not played in the opening three rounds due to a hip flexor injury but is the man who set the scene for the Battle of Brisbane rivalry in the inaugural match in 2023, jubilantly celebrating after scoring a late match-winning try.
Staggs will spend a full week training at right centre, and AAP understands he will replace Deine Mariner for Friday night’s showdown.
Gehamat Shibasaki, fresh from one of his finest NRL matches, the 26-16 win over North Queensland, will retain his spot at left centre.
Prop Payne Haas won the Carl Webb Medal as man of the match in the win over the Cowboys and is just happy Staggs is back for a game he usually thrives in.
The 26-year-old Staggs was on the cusp of returning last week, but coach Michael Maguire erred on the side of caution.
“It’s probably one of the best games I’ve been a part of, to be honest,” Haas said.
“I remember in 2022 when we first had it and when Kotoni scored the winning try and the stadium was rumbling, so it’s honestly an honour to be a part of and I just can’t wait to be there.”
Haas, who was unstoppable against North Queensland, said last year’s loss “wasn’t ideal”.
“That was last year,” he said.
In a warning for the Dolphins, Haas added he was just getting started.
“I had a pretty disruptive pre-season. I had surgery at the start of the year and that probably knocked me back a bit with my fitness,” he said.
“I’m building myself up again.”
The Broncos have won two matches in three rounds, while the Dolphins are still searching for their first win.
You will not see the Broncos puffing their chests out this week. They are internally taking an underdog mentality into the match after the Dolphins took them to cleaners 40-6 in round 26 last year.
Broncos five-eighth Ben Hunt will play in his first Dolphins derby after returning to the club he last played for in 2017.
The Dolphins investigated signing Hunt but the 34-year-old said he was only ever going to come home.
“It wasn’t overly serious. They showed a little bit of interest, but in the end I just wanted to come back here,” he said.
“Pretty much it was about [my love for the Broncos]. With everything they have given me early in my career, it was hard to not come back.
“It is going to be another massive game … the Battle of Brisbane and they will come ready to play. It will be a tough battle, so I’m looking forward to it.”
AAP
