LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
When Payne Haas is on the field, opposition fans and players alike must constantly track his location and movement.
Is he powering straight through the middle or angling back to carve out space from the play-the-ball?
Could he be positioned a few passes wide, looking to isolate and dominate one-on-one?
Are they relieved because he's taking a breather on the bench, or are they braced as he prowls the sideline returning for a second shift?
Stopping Haas in a way that truly matters is nearly impossible - since becoming a Bronco starter in 2019 he has topped 100 metres with ball in hand in 126 of 139 appearances.
Physically imposing and decorated with achievements, he usually announces himself long before impact, yet his confirmed switch to South Sydney in 2027 surprised many.
When he accelerates the turf seems to tremble beneath him, but this signing reshapes more than just single matches.
Haas stands among the premier forwards globally and ranks as one of the NRL era's elite performers, delivering everything asked of his role.
As the defining prop of his generation, his departure from Brisbane for the Rabbitohs alters both clubs' trajectories.
For the Broncos their once bright future now faces uncertainty.
Their 2025 premiership run was a sensational sequence of performances, culminating in three finals matches that felt like pure artistry.
For South Sydney, acquiring a talent of Haas's calibre offers an immediate elevation in power and expectation.
The ripple effects of the transfer will be felt across the competition for years to come.