Brisbane coach Michael Maguire believes Payne Haas will become an NRL Immortal as the superstar Broncos prop prepares for his Suncorp farewell.

South Sydney-bound Haas will play his final home game and say goodbye to 40,000 Broncos fans in Thursday night’s grand-final rematch turned dead rubber against the Storm.

Haas has given nine seasons of outstanding service, winning a club record six Paul Morgan Medals as player-of-the-year in a stellar Broncos career.

He is set to finish with 159 appearances from 2018-26.

The 26-year-old will be remembered as Brisbane’s greatest prop since Glenn Lazarus and Shane Webcke, spearheading the Broncos’ first premiership win in 19 years last season.

Haas is already widely regarded as the best prop of his generation.

And Maguire says the NSW Origin enforcer could one day join forward icons Ron Coote and Arthur Beetson as an NRL Immortal.

“I guess he’s an Immortal in my life because of what he’s been able to do in the short time that I’ve been able to work with him,” Maguire said ahead of Haas’ swansong.

“Time will tell how far Payne goes. People outside of me come up with those sorts of decisions (being crowned an NRL Immortal).

“There’s plenty of great players that have played the game and are talked about in the Immortal space, and it doesn’t come down to my decision.

“But he’s an Immortal in my coaching career because of the things we’ve been able to do together.

“He’s been so consistent here for the Broncos. I’m sure he’ll be consistent moving forward and that (Haas becoming an NRL Immortal) will create itself in time.”

It’s a huge outpouring of praise from Maguire, but not without validity given Haas’ monstrous efforts in the code’s toughest position.

Since he was blooded as an 18-year-old by Wayne Bennett, Haas has shown signs of greatness, playing the full 80 minutes in just his fifth NRL game as a teenager against Canberra in 2019.

Broncos fans have become accustomed to the sight of Haas not only charging through the midfield, but scoring 40-metre solo tries and often charging across in cover to foil a tryscoring movement.

Maguire rates Haas the fittest prop he has seen and says his mindset of excellence underpinned Brisbane’s charge to their first premiership since 2006 last season.

“I’ve been very fortunate to coach some great players, and he’s up there with them,” he said.

“He’s up there with the fittest props I’ve seen, he probably takes the gold medal.

“To watch him train and how hard he loves to train, he’s my style of how you go about playing and he loves it.

“One of my first meetings with Payne was two years ago (when Maguire was named NSW Origin coach in 2024).

“We caught up and we spoke about the Origin space. We spoke for over an hour just around footy and family and life.

“To be able to reunite with him at club level and achieve the ultimate with him, to say we succeeded in the Origin space and in the premiership space, is pretty satisfying.

“I’ve got huge opinion on Payne and to know the background and his family and what he’s been through to become the person he is, it’s real credit to him.”

Haas’ departure to South Sydney next season will leave a massive void in Brisbane’s pack.

But Maguire is confident the Broncos have forward leaders in Pat Carrigan, Xavier Willison and Mitch Barnett to step up in 2027.

“Payne plays a certain style, but we’ve also got other players coming in that’s going to help add to what we’re doing,” he said.

“At the end of the day, Payne plays in the style that he does and has the ability he does, but we know that we’re going to have a different group and you play a different style.

“I’m pretty fortunate we’re getting some good players to the club. With Mitch Barnett and Shawn Blore, they will bring different parts of how you play your game.

“Payne has been through the good times and the tough times here. We applaud him for always striving to be the best.”