From Tweed to Titans: How Haas is following in Fifita's footsteps

A great example of the fruit bearing from the Future Titans pathways program, the 20-year-old Gold Coast junior was fast-tracked into the NRL squad before the August 1 deadline - originally to join in 2023 after a successful pre-season - but not even a month later since starting at the club full-time, gets his opportunity on the big stage after impressing in only six Hostplus Cup appearances for the Tweed Seagulls after a strong start in the Hastings Deering Colts.

It's a very similar path fellow Titans teammate David Fifita took in 2018; when the skilful edge forward was an 18-year-old playing for Souths Logan in the Mal Meninga Cup, before quickly moving up the grades to Q-Cup and eventually NRL all in the same season.

Both similar players as back-rowers, Fifita is someone Haas has been able to lean on given his quick rise to the top, much like the Gold Coast powerhouse only four years earlier.

"I actually saw them chatting in the gym yesterday morning and I'm assuming that was probably about what the conversation was about," AJ Brimson said, when asked about Haas and the influence Fifita has had on him.

"Dave is pretty good, especially going to school together (and with Klese's older bother Payne) and they've followed a similar pathway, so he would be really good to look up to."

A proud alumni of Keebra Park State High School's rugby league program and a player who has been part of the Titans junior pathways since he was young, Brimson is hoping Haas' debut will show how the club's talent systems are working and the bright future ahead on the Gold Coast.

"I think it's a credit to him (to get his opportunity) because he's been ripping in during the pre-season and all year and he's come through our system," Brimson said.

"There's a big group of boys there that have been playing Under 21s, Q-Cup and even at Under 18s level, so it's good for them to see that the system is working and they can see what the future holds for them."

The older brother of Broncos enforcer Payne, Klese is a different type of player to the tough middle forward the rugby league world has come to know of the Haas surname, and the entire Titans squad is excited to see him play his first game of NRL, especially electrifying fullback Jayden Campbell.

"I'm really happy for him. He came into the full time system halfway through the year and has been training really hard and playing really well for Tweed, so I'm stoked he gets to make his debut this week," Campbell said.

"He's a tough player. He's just like his brother in that regard because he runs hard and tackles hard, so I'm really happy for him."

The occasion for the youngster will be a dream start to what hopes to be a long and prosperous NRL career, debuting at a stadium he grew up going to as a kid to watch his local team.

"I got to see the Gold Coast all the time because I lived in Bonogin and Cbus was just down the road," Haas said.

"Always seeing heaps of people going there, I really wanted to play at that stadium and I'm just really beyond grateful for the opportunity that I've been given."

Be there at Cbus Super Stadium this Sunday for our NRL/NRLW double header against the Knights as the Titans say thanks to the Gold Coast - secure your seat today!