NRL: Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas breaks silence as father arrested and threatened with death for drug trafficking

Even when his father was arrested on drug charges and threatened with the death penalty, Payne Haas never thought about missing the home state.

The superstar Brisbane prop was on the team bus for the Magic Round clash against Manly two weekends ago when he learned his father, Gregor, had been apprehended in the Philippines.

For Haas, there was nothing extraordinary about continuing despite adversity, later compounded by a mid-match ankle injury in the 13-12 victory.

At just 24 years old, Haas has already dealt with his mother's incarceration following her involvement in a fatal car accident, and last year his younger brother Zeda was charged with drug trafficking, which was later dropped .

Haas' priority in difficult times has always been his two younger brothers who live with him and his daughter.

“It’s a little tricky. Obviously, everyone knows what happened,” Haas said, speaking for the first time about his father’s situation.

“I'm just trying to look after my siblings and my family that I have in Australia and trying to make sure they're okay. Because what I'm experiencing, they're probably experiencing it too.

Through everything, football has always been a safe space for Haas.

“Obviously I grew up in circumstances that weren’t the best,” he said. “But I always use sports or whatever as a little escape from everything. I'm kind of used to it now and I just got into football, and it's football. I don't try to integrate my personal life outside of football.

“There are a lot of people whose situation has gotten worse, and I've been through worse things in my life.”

That’s why missing State of Origin this year was never an option.

Four-time Prop of the Year Dally M has become a walk-on starter for the Blues in recent years, amid a dearth of other elite options in the front row.

He will partner new captain Jake Trbojevic in the front row on June 5, with the Blues team picked on Sunday suggesting a game plan that will hinge on winning the midfield battle.

“I want to be here,” Haas said.

“It’s what you want to do and why you play rugby league growing up, you want to play State of Origin. It never crossed my mind not to play. I'm just privileged and blessed to be able to do this now.

The Broncos have supported Haas through his difficult times, with Haas naming coach Kevin Walters, general manager Dave Donaghy and head of education and welfare Adam Walsh as three pillars of support outside the playing group.

“There are so many people I can name at the Broncos. They have been so good to my family and me,” he said.

But with Origin I there will be no love lost between Haas and his Brisbane teammates Pat Carrigan, Selwyn Cobbo and Reece Walsh, who line out for Queensland.

“When we are on the field, there are no friends,” Haas said.