The 25-year-old’s heroics have come off the back of a tumultuous off-field life, in which both his parents have been incarcerated, and he has become a father-figure to his younger brothers.
Controlling what he could – such as his diet and mental wellbeing – has brought out his best form.
“When I’m away from footy I’m just a dad, a brother and a partner, so I just enjoy my family time a lot. It’s mentally refreshing, so when I come here, I’m ready to go,” Haas says.
“I’ve had lots of things go on and probably didn’t do that as well in the last few years. But this year has been the best balance I’ve found in my life.
“I think that’s shown on the field. Off the field, I’m just happy.”
To ensure Haas maintains his colossal frame and imposing presence on the field, nutrition expert Peta Carriage tells this masthead he would need to consume about 25,000 calories per training day.
But Carriage, who works as the Broncos’ NRLW dietician, says while the men typically have everything provided for them, the women required extensive education to ensure they remained elite.
Every Monday, meal planning takes place for the NRLW squad at Red Hill, with the younger members of the group being taught how to cook.
Carriage says the semi-professional nature of the competition means meals are planned around full work days and training until about 9pm, with the outside backs often eating as much as the forwards due to struggles maintaining playing weight.
Even if dinners are not possible until late at night, she says they have no choice but to make it a significant meal.
On game days, with kick-off times often ranging from 11am to 1pm, some of their morning intake needs to occur the night before. Carriage messages the group different plans depending on when the first whistle blows.
Broncos NRLW meal planning
- Breakfast: Carriage says breakfast for the players will typically be either overnight oats, or early morning eggs on toast before getting into the grind of their day.
- Lunch: Due to work commitments, Carriage says lunches will vary for players depending on their employment hours and whether they are at home or not, with light snacking part of the process.
- Dinner: Evening meals often won’t happen until late at night when training has finished, for some even later if they live outside of Brisbane. This is where meal planning is crucial, Carriage says, and will often be feeds such as bolognese, chicken wraps, burrito bowls or pasta bakes “that have a fair whack of protein and carbohydrates after training”. Non-training days will entail a simple “meat and three veg”.
- Game days: Morning intake begins the night before to accommodate for the earlier kick-off times – often between 11am and 1pm. Carriage will send out alternative snacking and meal plans the day before, conscious that with a shorter preseason and games taking place in hotter conditions players will need appropriate fuel to avoid early fatigue.
“Being lazy is not an option. They have to be on top of their nutrition because the schedule is so brutal,” she says.
“They have to actually meal prep, and if it’s late at night make eggs on toast or a healthy wrap even though they’re tired.
“That’s what they’re sacrificing, actually eating at home more than out which shouldn’t be a sacrifice, but in today’s world it is.”
Carriage stresses there is no room for “cheat days” once an athlete reaches this level of competition – at best, a “higher-energy meal” within 24 hours after a game is encouraged to help replace the burned energy.
“If they’re having [cheat] days, they’ll get caught out at this level. They can’t make the team if they’re not fit enough,” Carriage says.
“That goes for the men as well.”
It is a lesson Broncos centre Julia Robinson has taken to heart.
The Jillaroos sensation has committed to treating her career as a full-time professional, despite the 11-round campaign not beginning until July.
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Robinson has enjoyed a breakthrough year since shifting from the wing – leading the competition for total running metres (2487 at 226 a game) and tackle busts (85), while scoring nine tries and making 14 linebreaks.
The Dally M Medal runner-up looms as an X-factor for Sunday’s grand final against the Sydney Roosters – the first time both Brisbane sides have featured – after refusing to give herself much of an off-season.
“That’s how I like it anyway – I like to keep ticking over and still train,” Robinson says.
“My favourite saying when I go to junior clubs is ‘hard work will always beat talent when talent doesn’t want to work hard’. I knew I wasn’t the most talented player, but my hard work gets me over.
“It’s being dedicated to my training and what I can do to be in the best possible shape – my diet and looking after my body, and focusing on how I treat myself as a professional athlete.”
Broncos player Julia Robinson has become one of the NRLW’s most formidable stars.Credit: Louise Kennerley
The self-confessed gym junkie has juggled working for the army and Broncos in a game development capacity this year, but intends to step away from the military to throw herself into her rugby league pursuits.
“It’s hard for me to switch off from footy. It’s one of those things I’m always thinking about, and I feel like we have such a short time in this world – you don’t know when it’s going to be over,” Robinson says.
“All I want to do is what I can do to be better for next year.”
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