There have been calls for Payne Haas to dominate the Origin arena amid concerns the Blues prop’s form is well down when representing his state compared to his stellar form in club land for the Broncos.
A look at Haas’ stats in Origin next to his numbers for the Broncos proves that game’s best prop isn’t playing at the level he’s capable of when donning the sky blue.
In the NRL, Haas averages 160 metres per game, which drops to 111 in Origin. There is also a big difference in tackle busts (NRL – 3.62 per game, Origin – 1.25 per game) and post contact metres (NRL – 70 per game, Origin – 45 per game).
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“Is he not owning it for New South Wales at Origin level? There’s a significant difference between his Broncos form and his form for New South Wales,” host Braith Anasta put to the NRL360 panel on Wednesday night’s episode.
“He’s won four or five Paul Morgan medals as Brisbane’s best player. I don’t know how many Dally M Prop of the Year awards, but it would be a similar number,” Fox League’s James Hooper replied.
“At club level he’s regarded as one of the elite front rowers in the game but at State of Origin level, he’s yet to deliver for the Blues.
“The challenge is on. I like the fact that it’s become in the headlines and being the style of player and he bloke that he is, I think that he will handle it.”
Gorden Tallis says that stats between Origin and club land doesn’t always give the full picture but called on Haas to lift for his state.
“I think if you put most stats up against Origin stats, it’d probably be the same (as Haas’). It’s such a difficult arena,” Tallis said.
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“Payne has done his job in State of Origin but he just hasn’t dominated. we’ve watched him at club level do his 20 hit ups and he’s the best player on the field, but he’s yet to really dominate for New South Wales.”
“That the point. If you put everyone’s stats up they are going to be quite different between Origin and club land but not the greats and not the ones that make a difference,” Anasta replied.
Hooper added: “If you go back over all the great front rowers, whether they played for New South Wales or Queensland, Glenn Lazarus, Shane Webcke, Petero Civonceva, Steve Roach, Mark O’Meley from the Blues more recently.
“They get it done and they win series. That’s the challenge for Payne.”