Payne Haas concluded his tenure with the Brisbane Broncos at Accor Stadium, the very place where he took his first steps into the NRL eight years earlier.
In his final game for the club, Haas made an immediate impact by scoring the initial try against Canterbury.
Despite later receiving a temporary suspension, he displayed his usual effectiveness on the field, contributing impressive statistics in the match.
After the game, reality began to set in for Haas as he revealed that an upcoming surgery would prevent him from participating in the World Cup.
"I think once I do a bit of reflecting (it'll all hit me)," he said, acknowledging the significance of the moment.
Haas expressed that the past weeks had been particularly emotional for him and his loved ones, as he has been with the club since school.
"This club has given me a lot. They backed me and put a lot of faith in me out of school," he stated.
He further noted, "They gave me a great contract out of school and kept on looking after me."
Haas also reflected on his journey, commenting on how the alignment of his debut and final game at the stadium added to the experience.
"I debuted here, and I think it was a Thursday night as well. Maybe it just all aligned, you know?" he mused.
While his departure marks the end of an era, Haas remains optimistic about the prospects of his teammates in the future.