Gorden Tallis is a Gold Coast Titans ambassador but he's also inspiring rising forward Klese Haas to become a big-game player courtesy of one of State of Origin's iconic moments.
In Game Three of the 2002 Origin series, Queensland Maroons great Tallis grabbed NSW fullback Brett Hodgson by the collar and flung him around in circles for 10m and over the sideline.
Klese, 21, is the younger brother of Brisbane prop Payne Haas and when they were youngsters their father Gregor would screen videos of great games and players of the past and made sure every week in the Haas household was retro round.
"Whatever Payne was watching, I was watching too in the background," Haas told AAP.
"Dad made us view a lot of film of the past players he watched and he would point out the greats and say, 'This is who you should aspire to be like'.
"Payne was a Glenn Lazarus fan and I loved him too but I always enjoyed watching Gorden Tallis. I loved the 'rag doll' in Origin on Brett Hodgson. I have watched it over and over.
"It was such a big game and I have always wanted to have a special moment like that in a big game."
Haas, who played two games for the Titans last year, has been named on the bench against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday for his first NRL game of the season after shining for Tweed Heads in the Queensland Cup.
He admits a big moment has alluded him so far in his short career.
"It is still to come for me," Haas said.
"In the juniors I feel as though I shied away from those kind of moments but as I get older and my team needs a try or a tough carry I feel like I have always put my hand up to be that person."
Words of wisdom from Tallis are also driving him on.
"Gorden spoke to me at the Titans season launch and he said that he had been impressed with how I finished last season," Haas said.
"He asked how I was going in pre-season and he said, 'You have got to keep putting your head down and work your arse off'.
"Ever since that conversation I keep remembering what he said and thinking about it. I have just got to keep doing what he said."
Haas regards himself as more of a second-rower than a prop and has been getting some solid advice about how to play there.
"Dave Fifita has been helping me out with my line running and where I need to be as a back-rower," he said.
"I feel like I have more of a grasp about how to play there properly. I love it there."
