Returning Haas shows his class to top Hard Earned Index

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Mon 25 Jul 2022, 04:01 PM

After missing three weeks with AC joint issues in both of his shoulders, Payne Haas wasted no time in his return match for the Broncos on Thursday evening, registering a round-high 99 points in the VB Hard Earned Index.

Haas played 65 minutes in Brisbane's 36-14 victory over the Eels, scoring a first-half try and racking up game-high numbers for metres gained (225) and post-contact metres (96), along with 14 runs where he made eight metres or more.

Payne Haas is back

He wasn't the only prop to stand out last week, with overall Index leader Joseph Tapine, Wests Tigers big man Joe Ofahengaue and Maroons enforcer Josh Papalii rounding out the top four places.

Papali'i was the round's Offload King with five from 14 carries, while his Raiders teammate Tapine stood out when it came to tackle busting, with six breaks from 17 runs in Canberra's comeback victory over the Warriors.

Half-turned-lock Jackson Hastings is the only player in the round 19 Index Team of the Week who also made it last week, registering an impressive 19 line engagements to go with 31 tackles.

Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook was another to stand out in his return to NRL action, getting through 35 tackles without a single miss, along with 10 dummy-half runs and six runs for at least eight metres.

After trailing Tapine by just seven points in the overall Index count last week, a relatively quiet game for Isaiah Papali'i, which saw him register 71 points, has seen him fall 31 points behind his New Zealand teammate, while Penrith prop James Fisher-Harris rounds out an all Kiwi top three.

Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards remains the only back in the overall top 20, while the next best non-forward, James Tedesco, strengthened his standing with 69 points against the Knights, the top rank among fullbacks last week.