Brad Fittler's half-tonne monster show is on track to give Queensland nightmares in this year's State of Origin series.
On top of staple NSW props David Klemmer (116kg) and Paul Vaughan (110kg), Fittler has been keeping close watch on 2019 Blues debutant Payne Haas (119kg) and Eels colossus Junior Paulo (123kg).
Daniel Saifiti (121kg) is also in the mix after a strong showing in last year's series and any combination of those props would give NSW coach Fittler a front-row rotation of nearly 500kg; an unstoppable Blues tank.
Fittler is fond of fleet-footed middle forwards like Cameron Murray, Jake Trbojevic and Dale Finucane, carrying just one specialist prop on the bench for each Origin game last year. In Origin II, he had only two genuine front-rowers in his side (Saifiti and Vaughan).
But Haas and Paulo are the best of both worlds; massive men with elite stamina, surprising mobility and stacks of football ability. Fittler may be sorely tempted to play both in the same team.
Haas played the Origin opener last year and responded to being dropped by becoming the Dally M Prop of the Year at age 19. Paulo, 26, is yet to earn his debut.
Haas and Paulo went head-to-head when Brisbane played Parramatta last Thursday night and both were sensational.
Broncos giant Haas played a full 80 minutes, notching 196 run metres (97m post-contact), plus three offloads and 49 tackles. The massive statistical output left Immortal Andrew Johns in awe.
"Those stats of Payne Haas are incredible," Johns said post-match on Nine's Golden Point. "Wow. What a player."
Paulo was no less effective. In 55 straight minutes, he ran 170 metres (64m post-contact), threw four offloads and assisted a Clint Gutherson try, where he was standing in the backline like a plus-sized five-eighth. He also made 19 tackles.
"I've always liked Junior Paulo," Fittler said on Golden Point.
"He's gone through periods where you can see, because he's so big, it's easy for his weight to blow out. He's so much more effective when he's lighter and you can see he's done that.
"He played 56 minutes straight; that's incredible, he's a big man. Didn't just come up with some running, he came up with four offloads, came up with that play for a try."
Fittler revealed that he'd discussed Paulo with iconic NSW Origin coach Phil Gould. Both were in awe of the Parramatta prop's engine.
"He was incredible," Fittler said on The Sunday Footy Show.
"He played 56 minutes in a row and when I went up to Gus, I was talking to Gus about it, he said he's got lungs like a walrus. He said he could sit at the bottom of the pool for an hour and in the swimming races, he used to dive in, sit there and wait until they came back and pop up and win!"
Johns broke down Paulo's try assist, in which the prop displayed "beautiful" timing and hands, drawing defenders to create a gap. He sucked-in Broncos halfback Brodie Croft and left centre Kotoni Staggs, himself a NSW Origin hopeful, in no man's land.
"Because he's so big, he attracts defenders," Johns said. "He's a 130kg five-eighth."
https://twitter.com/NRLonNine/status/1265977565572927490?s=20Brisbane and Queensland great Sam Thaiday also lauded Paulo's performance.
"Junior Paulo was one of my favourite players out there, he was one of the best out there," Thaiday said.
"Such a big front-rower, such mobility and ball-playing skills as well, set up a try."
Ball-playing ability is a huge tick in Fittler's selection criteria. Sharks captain Wade Graham was influential in last year's series with his smart playmaking on the left edge.
The onus is on Paulo and Haas to maintain their form throughout the year, with the Origin series to be played post-season due to the COVID-19 shutdown.
NSW are trying to win their third consecutive series, off the back of Queensland's historic run of 11 victories in 12 years.
from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/junior-paulo-payne-haas-nsw-origin-brad-fittler/75dce8e2-905c-4219-bc22-3738e6f81e81
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