The Broncos have hosed down concerns around the fitness of Payne Haas after the hulking prop sent a scare through Broncos camp by leaving training early on Wednesday. Haas came into the new season under an injury cloud after undergoing ankle surgery in January but he was outstanding in Brisbane’s round one mauling of the Roosters and showed no signs that he was struggling in any way.

But Haas was spotted leaving training some 45 minutes before the rest of the Broncos squad during Wednesday’s training session at Red Hill, prompting fears he could be battling an injury. It’s since emerged that the NSW and Kangaroos prop – who is also a devout Muslim – was given an early breather because he’s been observing the religious holy month of Ramadan that requires fasting between sunrise and sunset.

Haas has been observing Ramadan for the past fortnight which makes his man-of-the-match performance in round one against the Roosters even more impressive. Haas made a whopping 142 running metres and busted 11 tackles in a barnstorming performance that also included a sumptuous try assist for Cory Paix.

And Broncos coach Michael Maguire obviously decided it was enough evidence to give Haas an early mark to rest and recover in the humid post-flood conditions in Brisbane. Haas did not complete scheduled media commitments after training either but teammate Kobe Hetherington said the big man had not slowed down or showed signs he was lacking energy, despite his religious fasting.

“He had to go home, he’s doing Ramadan and has been pretty flat out lately,” Hetherington said after stepping in to fill his teammate’s media slot. “He got through that game doing it, I don’t know how he did it, but he’s a different human. We all know what Payne’s like. He gives it week-in, week-out and puts up the big numbers. He always gives his 100 per cent. He’s gone home early for a bit of rest.”

In 2025, the month of Ramadan runs from the evening of February 28 until March 30, meaning Haas still has games against the Raiders, Cowboys and Dolphins to go before normal service resumes. Haas has already proven in the past that he’s a master of juggling Ramadan with his playing duties and has historically put up massive performances across the Muslim holy month during his time in Brisbane.

Payne Haas being used slightly differently at Broncos in 2025

Maguire also used Haas differently to way former Broncos coach Kevin Walters used to, by giving the prop a spell before halftime and a significant rest in a powerhouse 49-minute display. It’s understood that plan for Haas is unrelated to Ramadan and more about finding a way to get the best out of the 25-year-old by not asking him to play such big minutes without a break.

Haas is also expected to utilise his offloading skills more often in 2025, having tucked it away in his bag of tricks in previous seasons. The rampaging prop threw four offloads against the Roosters in a potential sign of things to come, and it will make him an even more dangerous proposition for rival teams to contend with this season.

Haas has claimed five Broncos player-of-the-year awards and his footwork for a big man is one of the reasons why many regard him as the best prop in the game. But if Haas can also add offloads into his impressive weaponry this season, it will make the Broncos an infinitely more dangerous side. “He’s a freak of nature and can pull that out of his arsenal,” Hetherington said about his teammate’s offloading ability. “Payne just keeps getting better and better.”

Maguire has unsurprisingly stuck with the same side that demolished the Roosters in round one after naming an unchanged team for Saturday night’s showdown in Canberra. Both the Broncos and Raiders are coming off impressive round one wins, with Ricky Stuart forced into a couple of changes because of suspensions to captain Joseph Tapine and Xavier Savage, with veteran prop Josh Papalii named to start and Albert Hopoate returning to the wing. English recruit Matty Nicholson is the new man on the bench for Canberra.