HE’S an oversized teen with the raps to match but that’s where any comparisons between Payne Haas and Dave Taylor should end according to Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough.

Like Taylor more than a decade ago, Haas is pushing his case for a teenage NRL debut in 2018 but it is his work ethic and not sheer size that is impressing senior Broncos players the most.

Standing 194 centimetres tall and weighing close to 120 kilograms Haas is a boy among men in age only and has been so impressive in the gruelling aerobic sessions during pre-season that teammates began referring to him as ‘No Pain’ Haas.

Although not as tall as Haas, Taylor was so advanced physically at a young age and so skilful with the football that he made his debut for the Broncos a month before his 18th birthday but failed to consistently live up to his enormous potential.

Premiership-winning coaches such as Wayne Bennett and Michael Maguire were left exasperated as they tried to extract the Coal Train’s best football on a regular basis, and overseas stints with Catalans and Toronto Wolfpack ended in controversial circumstances, Taylor not even playing a game before being cut by Toronto for disciplinary reasons a fortnight ago.

Haas has been so impressive that there are predictions from those close to the Broncos camp that he could play as much as half the season in 2018.

McCullough is confident the NSW under-18s rep won’t suffer the same fate as Taylor.

“Dave was obviously very skilful player and athletically was quick across the ground but Payne’s probably a different style to Dave,” said McCullough, who lived with Taylor when they first joined the Broncos.

“He loves getting in there and doing the tough stuff and he’s enjoying training.

“That’s where he competes hard every day and that’s what you want from him.

“It’s not always pretty, it’s not always scoring tries. He wants to get in there and do some contact and mix it up with some of the older boys.

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“He’s certainly throwing his weight around for an 18-year-old which is really impressive.

“It’s quite remarkable the size that he is. You’ve seen a lot of good trainers over the years and not be able to play football.

“We’ve got to make sure Payne does the other side and what he gets paid to do and that’s play football.”

Camera Icon Seventeen-year-old Dave Taylor training alongside Broncos veterans Petero Civoniceva and Tonie Carroll in 2006. Credit: News Limited

McCullough himself was only 18 when he made his first grade debut for Brisbane but believes coach Wayne Bennett will closely monitor Haas’s development over the next two seasons.

Not doubting his ability to handle the NRL physically, McCullough says that due to his age and maturity Haas will still have to be nursed into regular NRL but did throw one bold statement into the mix.

“You never know, he might play every game, I’m not sure,” said McCullough. “He might play around Origin time but he’s certainly putting his best foot forward the way he’s training.

“I’m not too sure how Wayne will go in trying to nurture big Payne.

“He’s a big boy but you’ve got to realise he’s only just turned 18.

Camera Icon Payne Haas has impressive aerobic capacity for such a big man. Photo: Liam Kidston Credit: News Corp Australia

“There’s a lot of football still to go and he’s playing in a tough position in the middle so they’ll certainly aim up on a big guy and a young guy like that early on.

“Size-wise and athletic-wise Payne will be fine, it will just be about managing the amount of games that he plays and the amount of minutes that he plays.

“Wayne will manage his time and use him as he needs to.”