LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
In a recent NRL match during Magic Round, Payne Haas found himself at the center of a controversial moment that allowed Nathan Cleary to score a pivotal try, leading to the Penrith Panthers' victory over the Brisbane Broncos.
Despite Haas's reputation as one of the best players of the season, he faltered in the closing seconds of the first half, enabling Cleary to capitalize.
Reports indicate that Cleary's attempt mirrored a critical moment from the 2023 grand final, where he also found success by exploiting a gap in the Broncos' defense.
On Sunday, Cleary received the ball on the short side and stepped off his left foot, evading a fatigued Haas and scoring under the posts.
The incident drew direct parallels to the grand final, where fullback Reece Walsh failed to cover a similar breach.
At that moment, Broncos players Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs, initially set at marker, rushed to the right, anticipating Cleary's movement.
However, when Cleary changed direction, Haas struggled to keep up and failed to fill the space left open by his teammates.
Exhausted from playing the entire first half, Haas couldn't muster a defensive effort and watched as Cleary raced past him.
Many observers on social media noted that with more effort, Haas might have even drawn a penalty for obstruction.
This moment of hesitation turned a potential defensive play into a decisive score for the Panthers, underscoring the demands on players during high-stakes matches like these.