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Haas would want ball kicked to Leniu if he was a Maroon
Scott Bailey, AAP • June 17th, 2025 10:30 am
Kick-offs are a topic of Origin debate after Queensland kicked away from Spencer Leniu in game one. | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Payne Haas doesn't care if Queensland avoid kicking off to him, but claims he'd want to send the ball Spencer Leniu's way if the shoe was on the other foot.
The kick-off debate remains an unlikely talking point one day out from State of Origin II, after the Maroons refused to kick in Leniu's direction in game one.
Haas was inadvertently brought into the debate last week, when Angus Crichton claimed he knew of predetermined Maroons plans to stop Haas and Leniu taking the first hit ups.
Of the four long kick-offs from Queensland in the series opener, the first two went left towards Mitch Barnett before the next two went right for Max King to return the ball.
The situation left Leniu fuming, with the Sydney Roosters firebrand appearing to swear in frustration as the Maroons changed the direction of their kick to avoid him.
Payne Haas (second right) says he relishes taking down key rivals in their kick-off returns. | Photo: Darren England/AAP
Haas remains unfazed by the matter, while admitting having the chance to take the first carry remained one of the highlights of Origin.
"It's cool. It's an adrenaline rush," Haas said at Blues training in Perth.
"It's what you live for. You watch those first carries in Origin, your Mark O'Meleys and all those guys.
"It's something you dream about as a kid, especially playing prop. It's always cool.
"But I'm not really worried about what their tactics are. I'm just worried about our performance and what we are going to do."
Former NSW front-rower Willie Mason accused the Maroons of being "s**t scared" of Leniu after not kicking to him in Origin I, while Braith Anasta labelled Queensland "weak".
The kick-off situation has become something of a running joke when mentioned to NSW players, given the way it has blown up and how much it infuriated Leniu.
But Haas said if there was a similar player to Leniu on the Maroons' team, he would want the ball kicked off to him in order to have the chance to take the rival firebrand down in their first hit-up.
"Personally I would," Haas said.
"But I'm not sure what Queensland's tactics are. I'm not really fussed about it, I don't think it's such a big deal."
