Matty Bowen has declared Reece Walsh needs to get fitter if he wants to be considering one of the top fullbacks in the NRL, while Payne Haas is racing the clock to be fit for round one after undergoing ankle surgery. The Broncos revealed on Friday that Haas had to go under the knife after copping an injury at training, and the club expects him back to full training in a month.
With the season kicking off in just six weeks’ time, there is a chance Haas won’t be ready for the Broncos’ first game against the Roosters. But coach Michael Maguire described the procedure as a “clean-out” and said they’re confident the front-rower won’t miss any matches.
“He has had a little clean-out on his ankle,” Maguire told News Corp. “It won’t be a long recovery. The doctors and physios felt it was the right thing to do with the timing. Payne looks after himself so well. We thought we’d get him in for surgery and get him right for round one.”
The exact return-to-play timeline isn’t known as yet, and Maguire will be hoping the recovery goes smoothly. The new coach will be desperate to have his best forward available against the Roosters on March 6 as he begins a new era at the Broncos after Kevin Walters’ exit.
Haas has battled a string of injuries in recent years, playing just 14 games for the Broncos in 2024 before undergoing foot surgery in September. Maguire is said to be considering using Patrick Carrigan in the front-row in 2025 to form a dynamic 1-2 combo with Haas.
Meanwhile, Cowboys legend Bowen has dropped a truth bomb on Broncos fullback Walsh, saying he isn’t in the same league as some of the NRL’s best fullbacks. Speaking at the Nines Premier League tournament on the Gold Coast on Friday, Bowen declared Dylan Edwards as the No.1 fullback currently playing.
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