Payne Haas in stunning surgery development as Broncos hit by major fresh NRL blow.
Payne Haas is expected to miss the next 4-6 weeks, in a major setback for the Brisbane Broncos. Coach Kevin Walters announced on Wednesday that Haas wouldn’t play against the Panthers on Thursday night, and the Broncos announcement later that the prop is booked in for surgery on his right knee.
“Payne met with a specialist today, and it was decided that the best course of action for him was to have an arthroscopy next week,” Broncos performance head Dave Ballard said on Wednesday night. “We always put the player’s long-term health first, and even if Payne will miss some games now, we will achieve a lot better result.
The Broncos will also be missing captain Adam Reynolds for the NRL grand final rematch, as the halfback has worsened his own knee injury. The Broncos announced on Saturday that Reynolds had evaded major injury after leaving the field with 10 minutes remaining in Brisbane’s triumph over Souths on Thursday night.
However, scans revealed a medial collateral ligament (MCL) strain, a recurrence of an ailment Reynolds sustained during the preseason. Broncos coach Walters told media on Sunday that his experienced halfback would not play against the Panthers in round three. “Reyno will not play or be named. “He is out,” Walters announced, announcing that Jock Madden will take over the No. 7 jersey.
On Wednesday, the news grew even worse for the Broncos, as star forward Haas was also ruled out. Reynolds and Haas were in rehab on Sunday and did not participate in a team training session.
Walters named Haas to his team roster on Tuesday, but he announced on Wednesday that he will be unable to play. Fletcher Baker, a Roosters recruit, will make his first start, while rookie prop Xavier Willison will come off the bench.
