Brisbane prop Payne Haas says missing the State of Origin decider to rest his troublesome shoulder was the hardest decision of his playing career.
Haas had been battling an AC joint injury all season but managed to play for NSW in the first two games of the Origin series.
He aggravated the injury in Brisbane's win over North Queensland just 11 days before he had been due to start in the front row for the decisive third Origin match.
Rather than risk damaging his shoulder further and missing more club games as the finals approached, Haas made the call to miss Origin III, a decision he ranked as the hardest of his career.
"I think footy-wise, it probably was," he told reporters.
"It was tough, I don't really want to talk about it. I hated it ... but I had to do what was best for this team (the Broncos).
"And I had to do what was right for my whole family. I just didn't feel right. I wasn't playing like myself.
"I felt like I was about 10 per cent off and that's all you need sometimes in big games. I didn't want to be a let-down for NSW."
Haas made his return to rugby league in Thursday night's big win over fellow finals aspirants Parramatta.
He reported no soreness in his shoulder as he scored a try and registered a game-high 225 metres, with 96 post-contact.
"I feel way better now," he said.
"It's been frustrating having these little injuries but having a few weeks off to freshen up has been good for me."
Haas averages more metres per game than any other specialist forward in the league and more carries each game than any other prop but nevertheless feels he can be doing more for his team.
"I hold myself to a high standard each week but I don't think I've been living up to them for the last couple of months," he said.
"Having a performance like that (against the Eels) is really pleasing for myself because I know I've put in the work."
