LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
NRL legends Darren Lockyer and Andrew Johns have endorsed Payne Haas as a contender to surpass Glenn Lazarus and become the greatest prop forward of all time.
Haas recently claimed yet another prop of the year award at the Dally M Medal ceremony and is widely recognized as the top prop currently playing.
At just 25 years old, he has already played 141 games and is earning a hefty salary, justified by his outstanding performance against the Penrith Panthers last weekend.
Playing the full 80 minutes, Haas led the tackle count and made significant contributions with the ball, helping the Broncos stage a comeback from a 14-point halftime deficit to eliminate the four-time champions and keep their title hopes alive for the first time since 2006.
This season, Haas has averaged 168 meters per game, boasts an impressive tackle efficiency of 98.5%, and has broken 125 tackles while executing 70 offloads over 23 games.
Though Glenn Lazarus, who won three premierships with three different clubs, is often regarded as the best ever, Lockyer stated on Channel Nine's QLDER that Haas has the potential to surpass Lazarus by winning championships, starting with the upcoming match against the Melbourne Storm.
"I've always said Glenn Lazarus was the best and if you look at his record, he's won three premierships with three different clubs," Lockyer said.