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As he prepares to make his NSW State of Origin debut, prop Payne Haas has revealed he was offered the chance as a teenager to play for Queensland.
NSW giant Payne Haas has revealed how Queensland's hierarchy attempted to convince him to pledge allegiance to the sunshine state as a teenager.
However he says he couldn't stomach the thought of pulling on a Maroon jumper as he prepares to make his State of Origin debut in Wednesday's game one at Suncorp Stadium.
The 19-year-old may have spent a third of his life in Queensland, but he said he was never in any doubt as to where his heart lay.
Haas was born in Newcastle but moved to Queensland's Gold Coast as a 13-year-old to attend famed rugby league nursery Keebra Park High.
It was there Haas was earmarked for greatness and at one point had 10 teams chasing his signature before he committed to Brisbane.
Haas was briefly in the Queensland system as a youngster but said it simply didn't sit right with him.
"I played for the Queensland under-15s, that was a bit different," Haas told AAP.
"But I've always been a blue and I'm happy to represent them this Wednesday.
"I did the QAS Origin pathways when I was 14. That didn't feel right so I went to the Blues. I haven't looked back since.
"Some of my coaches tried to say something (to convince him to play for Queensland). Kurt Richards, my QAS coach. I know he was a bit gutted that I wanted to go to NSW."
Haas went on to play for the Blues under-16s and captained their under-18s team.
In 2017 he stood in as an Andrew Fifita "clone" during a Queenland Origin opposed training session and after making his NRL debut last year, former Blues coach Phil Gould declared: "You're seeing the birth of a superstar".
"Ever since I was a kid it's been a work in progress. I knew I could be here but I didn't know (Origin) was going to come this quick," Haas said.
"I thought around 22 or something. I've exceeded that I can't wait to take my opportunities.
"It's just a game of footy so I'm not going to be overawed or anything. I'm just enjoying the days and staying calm and collected."
