Haas out of Origin as fellow Broncos prop hospitalised

Brisbane Broncos prop Payne Haas will be sidelined for six to eight weeks after suffering a grade-three medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury during their recent match against the Wests Tigers in Campbelltown. This injury not only rules Haas out for the remainder of the NRL season's early rounds but also means he will miss the upcoming State of Origin series opener for New South Wales. The Broncos face a significant challenge as they prepare for their next game against Canterbury, with multiple players either injured or doubtful. In addition to Haas, fullback Jesse Arthars sustained a tear to his interosseous membrane in his leg during the same match, while centre Kotoni Staggs is dealing with a plantar fascia strain. The Broncos have yet to determine the recovery timelines for Arthars and Staggs, adding further uncertainty to their squad selection. The team currently has 13 players either ruled out or questionable for the upcoming fixture, complicating their preparations. Brisbane will welcome back hooker Cory Paix from a concussion-related absence, and if Arthars is unavailable, fullback Hayze Perham is a strong candidate to start, having impressed off the bench previously. The Broncos may also introduce prop Va'a Semu, who was named on the bench but did not play against the Tigers, for his NRL debut. Additionally, 19-year-old centre Antonio Verhoeven could step in for Staggs if necessary. These changes underscore the Broncos’ depth challenges and the impact of injuries on their campaign moving forward.