Haas,who will run out for the Blues in the opening State of Origin game in Sydney next Wednesday night,is yet to speak to his father,who was earlier this month for his alleged links to a Mexican drug cartel.
Queensland superstar Harry Grant was absent from the first State of Origin training session due to being sick.
Payne is now caring for his school-aged brothers Hans and Geejay,who live with him as he carves out a career as a $1 million-a-season superstar with the Broncos.
News of his father’s arrest broke in Australia as Haas was travelling on the Broncos’ team bus to Suncorp Stadium for their Magic Round match against the Sea Eagles,but the 24-year-old has continued playing and will spearhead the NSW pack against Queensland.
Speaking for the first time since Gregor’s arrest,Haas said he had no thoughts about withdrawing from the Origin series and wanted to be a good role model for his younger siblings,including Gold Coast Titans player,Klese,and daughter Lalita.
“Everyone knows what’s happened,” Haas said. “I’m just trying to look after my siblings and try and look after my family that I’ve got in Australia and try to make sure they’re alright. Because what I’m going through,they’re probably going through as well.
Payne Haas at the NSW Blues camp at Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday.James Brickwood
“I know there’s lots of people who have got things worse,and I’ve been through worse things in my life. Obviously when I come and play footy,I enjoy it,it’s my little escape from reality.”
Indonesian authorities will allege Gregor Haas sent a shipment of methamphetamines,which were allegedly,to Indonesia. The country’s strict drug laws state offenders found guilty of the drug smuggling face execution or life in prison.
At a Manila detention centre,Gregor Haas told reporters he wanted to say sorry to Payne and that he loved him.
Gregor’s wife and Payne’s mother,Uiatu “Joan” Taufua,is also in custody and before the courts facing three counts of manslaughter after a two-vehicle collision in December 2022. She was further charged with mid-range drink driving and evading police. She is yet to enter a formal plea.
News of his father’s arrest hit the news in Australia as Payne Haas was on the team bus as the Broncos travelled to Suncorp Stadium for the Magic Round clash against Manly.Getty
Susan Zimmer,70,her partner Chris Fawcett,79,and Zimmer’s daughter Steffanie,35,died at the scene of the crash in the Gold Coast hinterland.
Haas’ older brother,Chace,who was a ventilated quadriplegic after his spinal cord snapped in a car accident when he was just five months old,died almost four years ago at the age of 21.
Haas said he had spoken to his younger siblings about Gregor’s arrest,but said it was impossible to shield them completely from the family trauma in the social media age.
“You talk about it straight away and move on from it,” Haas said. “I just make sure they’re alright,going to school and being normal,doing what normal kids do. Our family hasn’t had a good run lately. As long as I’m being a good role model for them,I know they’ll be all right.
‘Our family hasn’t had a good run lately.’
Payne Haas
“I grew up in not the best circumstances,but I always use sport,or anything[really],as a little escape from everything. I’m sort of used to it now and I just come into footy,and that’s footy. I don’t try and bring my outside personal life into footy when I come to training with all the boys.”
Haas said he had received support from the Broncos and chief executive David Donaghy,coach Kevin Walters and wellbeing and education manager Adam Walsh in recent weeks.
But Blues coach Michael Maguire has also been in regular contact over the past few months in the lead-up to naming his game one squad.
“I really appreciate that from Madge[Maguire],” Haas said. “I’ve had to learn to be resilient growing up. I’m not really surprised[by my own strength]. I’ve been through worse things in my life.
“I want to be here. This is what you want to do and why you play rugby league growing up. You want to play State of Origin. It never crossed my mind not playing. I’m just privileged and blessed that I get to do that now.
“You’re representing your family,and not just them,but you’re representing your state.”
At just 24,Haas will be the joint second most capped NSW player for this year’s Origin series behind new skipper Jake Trbojevic,who has replaced James Tedesco.
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