Payne Haas is playing down talk he can prove the Daly Cherry-Evans-like missing link that propels South Sydney from finals also-rans to NRL premiers in 2027.
Haas completed his first training session at the Rabbitohs on Monday, reuniting with Wayne Bennett more than eight years after the super-coach handed the then-teenage tyro his debut for Brisbane in 2018.
The 26-year-old concedes he wouldn't be in Sydney if not for Bennett, who lured the world's best front-rower to Maroubra with the express intention of returning the Rabbitohs to champions.
Souths have endured four preliminary final defeats, plus a painful 14-12 loss to Penrith in the 2021 title decider, since winning the premiership for a record 21st time in 2014.
After seeing their side bow out in the opening week of this year's playoffs, Rabbitohs fans are hoping Haas can prove the point of difference like Cherry-Evans and Cooper Cronk were for the Sydney Roosters in the Tricolours' three premierships in 2018, 2019 and 2026.
Not that the humble Haas is claiming to be that same guy.
"I'm not sure. Time will tell. I'm just here to be present and train the house down and earn the respect of the boys," said the $3.6 million, three-year prized signing.
"Just being a good teammate, to be honest, and someone who people want to play with and just being a good person off the field and on the field.
"That's how I've lived my life and I'll keep on doing the same."
While not wanting to talk up his own influence, the 2025 Broncos premiership winner is adamant the Rabbitohs have the roster to go all the way in 2027.
A full-strength line-up would feature Haas playing in a forward packing alongside the likes of fellow representative stars Cameron Murray, Brandon Smith and his former schoolmate David Fitita.
The backline, featuring Latrell Mitchell, Alex Johnston, Jye Gray, Jack Wighton, Campbell Graham and almost certainly Cody Walker for one last hurrah, is also full of strike power.
"Look at the players we've got, I wouldn't come here if I didn't think that," Haas said.
"You've got all these guys on this roster. We just need to keep healthy and I'm pretty sure we'll do special things.
"I've been with Cam in Origin, I know what kind of special player he is and a great leader he is and I just can't wait to rub shoulders with him and especially Davey (Fifita) as well."
Haas, who revealed he won't return to full-contact training until January following hand surgery, also put to bed rumours he left Brisbane because of a falling-out with Michael Maguire over the coach's infamously tough training regimen.
"It definitely wasn't the training or the coach," he said.
"But the thought of moving scared me and made me uncomfortable - and that's why I really wanted to do it.
"Me leaving Brisbane, I could've just stayed there for the next five years and signed and been comfortable and I didn't want to have any regrets, so when I had that feeling of moving and that sense of being uncomfortable, I just wanted to pull the trigger.
"I don't really care what people think."
Australian Associated Press
