ruling him out of Samoa\u2019s World Cup campaign<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u201cI need to straighten it (his finger) up,\u201d Haas said.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m trying to get them (fingers) straightened out as you can see.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m getting a few pins next week, so obviously I\u2019ll try and get ready for the big move (to South Sydney).\u201d<\/p>\n
Haas\u2019 good mate Pat Carrigan, tipped to be Brisbane\u2019s captain next season, said there will be no room for complacency when the Broncos kick-off their 2027 pre-season in November.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice to finish on a win,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a long off-season but we know we fell short of where we wanted to be this year and in this game you earn what you get.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe boys will be refreshed and we\u2019ll get back to working hard<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very confident in the team that we\u2019ve got and our capabilities \u2026 we\u2019re definitely going to have a new look.\u201d<\/p>\n
HAAS\u2019 HAPPY ENDING: BRONCOS FINISH HORROR SEASON WITH A WIN<\/p>\n
Ben Hunt fired a formidable statement in the battle for the Brisbane No.7 jumper as the Broncos gave Payne Haas a fitting farewell with a 34-20 belting of the Bulldogs on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
Brisbane\u2019s season from hell ended with a final-round ray of hope, claiming their eighth win at the very Homebush venue that was the scene of their epic premiership triumph last season.<\/p>\n
Twelve months on, the Broncos (8-16) have suffered the NRL\u2019s worst title collapse in 63 years, but this six-try Canterbury cakewalk will prime besieged coach Michael Maguire for a Red Hill revenge mission next season.<\/p>\n
With scores locked 10-all at halftime, the Broncos channelled their Accor Stadium title heroics, scoring four tries in 11 minutes as two-try Josiah Karapani inspired a second-half blitz to bury the dismal Dogs.<\/p>\n
HAAS-TA LA VISTA<\/p>\n
Payne Haas. What a champion. What a competitor. Right until the very last minute, the Souths-bound superstar prop gave his all for the Broncos.<\/p>\n
In his 159th and final game for the club, Haas made an early statement of what the Broncos will miss next season when he powered through the Bulldogs, carrying three men across to open the scoring in the sixth minute.<\/p>\n
While he was sin-binned for Brisbane repeatedly holding down in the 15th minute, Haas went out on his shield with 129 metres, six tackle busts and 32 tackles.<\/p>\n
HUNT ME DOWN<\/p>\n
Hunt has made it clear: he isn\u2019t giving up the Broncos\u2019 No.7 jumper next season to rising rivals Tom Duffy and Jonah Pezet. This was a masterclass Allan Langer would have proud of.<\/p>\n
The wily old fox may be 37 in March but Hunt is still sharp enough to penetrate and he showed that in the 48th minute when he stepped through and crashed over to give the Broncos a 22-10 lead.<\/p>\n
The 373-game warrior then kicked the stuffing out of the Dogs. There was a sublime crosskick for Jordan Riki\u2019s 51st minute try for 28-10 and a booming late clearing kick to nail the coffin shut.<\/p>\n
TRIPLE TREAT<\/p>\n
Three players who will be critical to Brisbane\u2019s fightback season \u2013 Billy Walters, Karapani and Pat Carrigan \u2013 terrorised the Dogs.<\/p>\n
Carrigan has been out of touch this season, but he finished on a positive note with a willing display highlighted by his slick offload for Walters\u2019 crucial try five minutes after halftime.<\/p>\n
Karapani ran riot, storming to 142m with a staggering 13 tackle busts and icing one of the finest performances of his career with a match-sealing try in the 56th minute for a 34-10 lead.<\/p>\n
Walters was magnificent. He is the shining light amid the Broncos\u2019 title train wreck. The 32-year-old has fought back superbly from a knee reconstruction and his brilliant dummy-half snipes that carved up the Dogs is proof he must be Brisbane\u2019s starting No.9 next season.<\/p>\n
As he watched the Bulldogs belting, Maguire must have wondered where this form has been all season.<\/p>\n
THE DEFENCE RESTS<\/p>\n
Brisbane have a slew of things to fix next season. Their left-edge defence should be top of the list.<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs\u2019 right-side offence unlocked the Broncos early, most emphatically in the 22nd minute when Canterbury halfback Lachlan Galvin coasted between Jaiyden Hunt and Ezra Mam through a gap as wide as Sydney Heads.<\/p>\n
Defence is attitude. If the Broncos can muscle up next season, this 2026 debacle may prove to be an aberration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A defiant Michael Maguire says Brisbane\u2019s season from hell will inspire a title fightback as departing superstar 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