LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The Brisbane Broncos are facing a significant challenge ahead of their crucial match against South Sydney on Friday night.
The team is contending with the potential absence of star player Payne Haas, who is currently suffering from an infection and is "in grave doubt" for the round 22 clash at Suncorp Stadium, as reported by Peter Badel from The Courier Mail.
Additionally, Brendan Piakura has been ruled out, adding to the Broncos' troubles.
A final decision on Haas will be made just an hour before the game kicks off at 8 pm.
His participation is critical for the Broncos, who currently sit sixth and aim to secure a top-four finish as the regular season nears its conclusion.
Even if Haas is fit enough to play, he might not be at his best, having started to feel unwell during the Broncos' captain's run on Thursday morning.
Broncos coach Michael Maguire will allow him to prove his fitness until the last moment.
Haas has been managing several injury concerns this season, including an ongoing lower back issue that surfaced during the Origin series.
He also limped after a recent loss to Parramatta but thankfully did not need scans for the ankle knock.
The club's medical team has been managing his workload carefully, emphasizing that Haas will continue training and competing rather than taking extended rest.
Troy Thomson, the Broncos' head of football, articulated the club's philosophy on player management.
"If Payne can't play a game of footy of course we are going to give him a rest, but this whole notion that giving him a rest is going to fix him is not how the human body works," Thomson stated.
He explained that "movement helps recovery," emphasizing the importance of keeping players active and managing their loads individually.
He further elaborated, "We are managing Payne's loads, like we do all of the players on an individual basis to ensure they are fresh enough but also have sufficient fitness, strength, flexibility and range of motion to play week-in and week-out NRL.
It is about ensuring they have the right stimulus ...
and volume and intensity of load as well."
Overall, the Broncos are facing a tough road ahead with Haas's health uncertain, just as they prepare to battle a formidable Rabbitohs squad.