In a beaten side, Payne Haas was one of the best on grand final night.
The Broncos superstar was one of three forwards from the team - including Patrick Carrigan and Keenan Palasia - to run for 150 metres or more. Throw in 63 post-contact metres and 41 tackles with no misses and you've got a player who took it to one of the greatest forward packs of the modern era, led by James Fisher-Harris.
Alongside him throughout his journey in the past few years has been Broncos legend Petero Civoniceva, who officially took on a wellbeing support coordinator role with the club in 2021.
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Civoniceva's role has involved mentoring the likes of Haas, who at a young age still have plenty to learn on and off the field.
The legendary prop believes Haas - having played for his country, state and in grand finals and still 23 years old - is right up there in the top echelon of front-rowers.
"I've been lucky, I've played alongside some great front-rowers, Steve Price, Shane Webcke, Andrew Gee, Jason Ryles, Luke Bailey, Martin Lang, there's so many great front rowers so I think when you stack him up against that great group of front rowers he's certainly a guy that will feature at the very top of that list for years to come," he told Wide World of Sports before Sunday's grand final.
"The fact he's been so successful and what he's done in an early part of his career is astounding really, so it's exciting to see where his career goes from here and he'll be an important cog in the machine for the Broncos."
Throughout Haas' career there have been challenges.
Indiscretions with police and a highly publicised release request in 2022 put him in the spotlight.
However, despite the adversity he's faced off the field, Haas' effort on the field has never changed.
It's an admirable trait for someone who's been subject to family tragedy.
Civoniceva puts Haas' development on and off the field down to a connection with teammates and his desire to not let off-field incidents distract him from his on-field performances.
"It's wonderful for a lot of the majority of those Broncos players that have come through the junior system together from an early age, they've got a deep friendship and connection," he said.
"I guess for Payne, obviously he's had some challenges but in saying that he's been able to maintain his presence at a really high level not just on the field but off the field.
"He's going to be such an important part of the club for many years to come and I guess we're really lucky at the Broncos that we've got someone like him."
With a foot in both camps on grand final day having played for both the Broncos and Panthers, Civoniceva was at the event for a different reason.
As an ambassador for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, the NRL great teamed up with fellow icon Geoff Toovey to raise awareness around bowel cancer.
The 47-year-old is now approaching the age bracket where a bowel screening test is a necessity and is encouraging people to take the free test.
"It's a wonderful cause, for us being able to use a platform of our great game rugby league and to be here on grand final day (is a great way) to raise the awareness of the community to get it together and understand how important it is once you turn 50 to get your bowel screening test done," he said.
"It's a free test and also too the stats at the moment show that if picked up early enough, 90 per cent of cases can be treated successfully.
"At the moment, sadly in Australia, only 40 per cent of our eligible community members are getting tested so if we can raise that to 60 we can save up to 80,000 people's lives. That's why it's so important.
"For me, I'm approaching the age of 50 so for me to understand how important this is, it's really, really important but also for myself encouraging my mates that are approaching 50 as well, the importance of getting the test done.
"It's important for our communities right across Australia, whether they're regional or whether they're in the city, the stats are quite shocking really, the fact bowel cancer's the second biggest cancer killer.
"In understanding that and knowing that, and knowing how far we've got to go, using a platform like (the grand final) is really important.
Visit www.health.gov.au/nbcsp to learn more about the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, and order your FREE test today.
In a beaten side, Payne Haas was one of the best on grand final night.
The Broncos superstar was one of three forwards from the team - including Patrick Carrigan and Keenan Palasia - to run for 150 metres or more. Throw in 63 post-contact metres and 41 tackles with no misses and you've got a player who took it to one of the greatest forward packs of the modern era, led by James Fisher-Harris.
Alongside him throughout his journey in the past few years has been Broncos legend Petero Civoniceva, who officially took on a wellbeing support coordinator role with the club in 2021.
READ MORE: Meninga 'surprised' by Latrell sight
READ MORE: Michael Klim opens up on incurable disorder
READ MORE: Cleary's Kangaroos spot in doubt after GF injury
Civoniceva's role has involved mentoring the likes of Haas, who at a young age still have plenty to learn on and off the field.
The legendary prop believes Haas - having played for his country, state and in grand finals and still 23 years old - is right up there in the top echelon of front-rowers.
"I've been lucky, I've played alongside some great front-rowers, Steve Price, Shane Webcke, Andrew Gee, Jason Ryles, Luke Bailey, Martin Lang, there's so many great front rowers so I think when you stack him up against that great group of front rowers he's certainly a guy that will feature at the very top of that list for years to come," he told Wide World of Sports before Sunday's grand final.
"The fact he's been so successful and what he's done in an early part of his career is astounding really, so it's exciting to see where his career goes from here and he'll be an important cog in the machine for the Broncos."
Throughout Haas' career there have been challenges.
Indiscretions with police and a highly publicised release request in 2022 put him in the spotlight.
However, despite the adversity he's faced off the field, Haas' effort on the field has never changed.
It's an admirable trait for someone who's been subject to family tragedy.
Civoniceva puts Haas' development on and off the field down to a connection with teammates and his desire to not let off-field incidents distract him from his on-field performances.
"It's wonderful for a lot of the majority of those Broncos players that have come through the junior system together from an early age, they've got a deep friendship and connection," he said.
"I guess for Payne, obviously he's had some challenges but in saying that he's been able to maintain his presence at a really high level not just on the field but off the field.
"He's going to be such an important part of the club for many years to come and I guess we're really lucky at the Broncos that we've got someone like him."
With a foot in both camps on grand final day having played for both the Broncos and Panthers, Civoniceva was at the event for a different reason.
As an ambassador for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, the NRL great teamed up with fellow icon Geoff Toovey to raise awareness around bowel cancer.
The 47-year-old is now approaching the age bracket where a bowel screening test is a necessity and is encouraging people to take the free test.
"It's a wonderful cause, for us being able to use a platform of our great game rugby league and to be here on grand final day (is a great way) to raise the awareness of the community to get it together and understand how important it is once you turn 50 to get your bowel screening test done," he said.
"It's a free test and also too the stats at the moment show that if picked up early enough, 90 per cent of cases can be treated successfully.
"At the moment, sadly in Australia, only 40 per cent of our eligible community members are getting tested so if we can raise that to 60 we can save up to 80,000 people's lives. That's why it's so important.
"For me, I'm approaching the age of 50 so for me to understand how important this is, it's really, really important but also for myself encouraging my mates that are approaching 50 as well, the importance of getting the test done.
"It's important for our communities right across Australia, whether they're regional or whether they're in the city, the stats are quite shocking really, the fact bowel cancer's the second biggest cancer killer.
"In understanding that and knowing that, and knowing how far we've got to go, using a platform like (the grand final) is really important.
Visit www.health.gov.au/nbcsp to learn more about the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, and order your FREE test today.
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