Haas expected to miss several weeks as Broncos count cost of brave win

By Michael Doyle

Payne Haas is expected to have a stint on the sidelines after injuring his knee on Saturday. (AAP Image: Dean Lewins)

Link copied

Brisbane's horror injury toll appears to have worsened after the reigning NRL premiers produced a brave performance to snap Wests Tigers' three-match winning streak.

Returning captain Adam Reynolds kicked the match-winning field goal in the 70th minute, as the Broncos held on for a 21-20 win in front of a packed crowd at Campbelltown.

Despite Reynolds returning, Brisbane's injury toll was one of the league's worst heading into round seven.

Reece Walsh and Ben Hunt have been missing since their round five win against Gold Coast, while Aublix Tawha, Blake Mozer and Cory Paix were all hurt in last weekend's nail-biting loss to North Queensland.

The casualty ward appears set to grow, with Payne Haas and Jesse Arthurs failing to finish the match, while Kotoni Staggs revealed he played most of the match with a torn ligament in his foot.

Haas failed to finish the first half, with Broncos coach Michael Maguire saying post-match that initial thoughts are the star prop had suffered an MCL injury and is set for a stint on the sidelines.

Staggs was instrumental for the Broncos as they brought the high-flying Tigers back to Earth on Sunday, producing a magnificent cover tackle on Wests winger Heamasi Makasini in the 76th minute, which knocked him into touch and ended the home side's best chance of equalising the game at the death.

Speaking with broadcaster Fox League post-match, Staggs said he could not run at full speed throughout the second half.

"I tore a ligament in my foot. The doc told me at half-time that it was torn," Staggs said.

"I knew I had to stick in there strong. I still had a pulse, so I kept going."

Meanwhile, South Sydney heaped more misery on the winless St Geogre Illawarra, with Latrell Mitchell scoring four tries to secure an 18-point win for the Rabbitohs.

Latrell Mitchell overpowered the Dragons to score four tries in a brilliant individual performance. (AAP: Mark Evans)

Dragons second-rower Jaydn Su'A was sent off for a shoulder charge that hit the head of Souths lock Cameron Murray, the first player to be permanently marched since the 2024 season. 

The Dragons have lost all seven matches in 2026, and are on an 11-match losing streak dating back to last season. 

In the opening match of the day, the New Zealand Warriors defeated a spirited Gold Coast Titans 28-20.

The Warriors held a 22-0 lead at half-time, but a flurry of late points from the Titans put some respectability in the score.