Fa'asuamaleaui, Haas charged after Origin melee

A game-day News Corp story quoted Fa'asuamaleaui's manager Simon Mammino recalling a stoush between the pair in an under-18s Origin in 2017, allegedly won well by the Queenslander despite NSW winning the scoreboard.

The two were each binned 56 minutes into NSW's 34-10 win at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday, with Maroons coach Wayne Bennett branding the incident all-but inevitable thanks to the media coverage.

"You're talking about 20-year-olds with headlines about two years ago and their dislike for each other … That fight didn't come from nowhere, it was already brewing from this morning and the background as well," Bennett said.

But speaking after the game, Haas seemed totally perplexed by any suggestion of a feud.

"I've been asked that question quite a bit, I don't know where all that stuff came from," Haas shrugged.

"I've hardly versed Tino growing up, he's a year younger than me so I don't know where that's come from."

Fa'asuamaleaui was born in February of 2000 and while he is only a couple of months younger than Haas, who was born in late 1999, he mostly played a year behind but was playing up a year in that under-18s match in 2017.

"I don't know if that's just his agent trying to start some stuff but when you see that kind of stuff you don't get into it, especially if it's not true," Haas added.

"I didn't get into it, it doesn't really matter, on the field whatever happens stays there. I'm friends with Tino, I apologised to him after, that was out of my character to start that."

Haas was more concerned with enjoying his first win in five months after a horror year at the Broncos, and preparing for the unaccustomed experience of being booed at his normal home ground of Suncorp Stadium in a week's time.

"I forgot what winning feels like, it's good to win especially because it's been a tough year at the Broncs. It's good to get a win tonight and hopefully win the series next week," he said.

"We'll be getting booed next week, it won't matter to them, Queenslanders are all passionate as everyone knows and they won't give you anything. That's Origin, that's footy, you love that kind of stuff."

I apologised to him after, that was out of my character to start that

Payne Haas on his run in with Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

Of his own impressive performance, which was his first run-on start in his third Origin, Haas said he enjoyed the added responsibility.

"Last week was all right, I didn't play that much but it was good to get out there and blow the cobwebs out. I thought today was a bit better and pushed out more minutes which I was happy with," he said.

It was good to provide a better platform for the under-fire playmakers, he added.

"We did speak about that. We have to help them out a lot and get quick play the balls and I thought we did that tonight in patches," he said.