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Teammates expect Brisbane's Payne Haas to defy a shoulder issue and play Cronulla on Thursday despite him performing only light duties at Monday's training.
Brisbane plan to quell one Cronulla "beast" and are hopeful their own will be there too after Payne Haas was reduced to light training duties to manage a shoulder injury.
The Broncos prop has a minor AC joint strain, one he was able to play through after an injection on Friday and still dominate in their comeback NRL defeat of Canterbury.
Haas avoided contact work at training on Monday though, running laps with teammate Ryan James as the rain fell at Red Hill.
Recalled five-eighth Tyson Gamble expects Haas to be there at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday to face a Sharks side brimming with confidence after a Siosifa Talakai masterclass.
"He came back on (on Friday)," Gamble said in a vote of confidence for Haas's health.
"He's a beast as well; 68 minutes (played), 250 run metres (earned) ... I wish (I could do that), I wish."
Talakai on Thursday trumped that with two tries and three try assists in a stunning performance at centre against Manly, with fellow NSW State of Origin contender Kotoni Staggs now tasked with stopping him.
"It's going to be a good one to watch, a good battle, both in form," Gamble said.
Gamble showed promise when given a chance in the halves last year but had to wait seven rounds for another crack in 2022.
He said his role had changed this year, asked to play more off-the-cuff given captain Adam Reynolds' arrival as the game-managing half.
"It was hard, annoying, but that's footy, you can't expect to play every week, have to bide your time," he said of his wait for a shot this season.
Things were looking shaky when the understrength Bulldogs led 16-4 with 25 minutes to play.
Five unanswered tries saved the Broncos' blushes as they broke a four-game losing streak by winning 34-14.
"When we hold the ball we can score points and when we turn it around we play good footy," Gamble said.
"Five tries in 20 minutes; we can do it."
