Tessa Lee, Sports journalist reporting on global leagues since 2021.
The Tupou Francis hype continues to grow after Brisbane Broncos superstar Payne Haas declared the teenage forward is destined to become a State of Origin player. Francis is yet to make his NRL debut, but the highly rated 18 year old has already secured a long term future at Red Hill after attracting strong interest from rival clubs. His rapid rise has positioned him as one of the Broncos' brightest young prospects and a potential successor to Haas in Brisbane's forward pack.
Payne Haas delivers glowing endorsement
Few opinions carry more weight among NRL forwards than Payne Haas, making his praise for Francis particularly significant.
Haas believes the young lock has both the talent and mentality to become a long term fixture at the Broncos.
"He is a great young player who has got a lot of potential and he is going to be a mainstay in the Broncos system for a long time," Haas said.
"He will play Origin in the near future. He is a future player to watch."
The endorsement comes from one of the game's premier middle forwards, highlighting the regard Francis already commands within Brisbane's squad.
Rugby league runs in the family
Francis joined the Broncos in 2025 on a four year contract after developing through Marsden State High School.
He is the younger brother of Gold Coast Titans winger Tony Francis and is also part of the renowned Hopoate family, which has produced numerous NRL, State of Origin and international players.
Francis credits his family's experience for helping shape his development and giving him valuable advice throughout his junior career.
His older brother Tony has played a particularly important mentoring role, offering guidance as Francis progressed through representative football.
Rapid rise through the Broncos system
Standing 183 centimetres tall and weighing 101 kilograms, Francis has quickly established himself as one of Brisbane's elite young forwards.
His achievements already include helping Burleigh Bears win the Under 19 Mal Meninga Cup, earning selection in Queensland representative pathways and making his Queensland Cup reserve grade debut.
His performances have also drawn comparisons with Penrith and Australia lock Isaah Yeo because of his versatility, work rate and football intelligence.
Interest from rival clubs soon followed.
Canberra and South Sydney were among the clubs linked with the teenager after Brisbane granted him permission to explore his options.
The Broncos reportedly placed a significant release value on Francis before convincing him to recommit on a deal believed to be worth around six hundred thousand dollars per season.
The contract will see him promoted to Brisbane's Top 30 roster from next season.
Could he replace Payne Haas?
With Haas set to depart Brisbane at the end of the season to join South Sydney, Francis has emerged as one of the club's long term options to strengthen its forward rotation.
Replacing one of the NRL's most dominant forwards will be an enormous challenge, but the Broncos believe Francis possesses the physical attributes, professionalism and potential to develop into a key member of their pack.
The teenager is taking a measured approach to those expectations.
Rather than focusing on comparisons, Francis says his immediate goal is simply making his NRL debut before earning a regular place in Brisbane's first grade squad.
He also continues to learn from experienced teammates including Haas, Patrick Carrigan and Xavier Willison.
Queensland chosen over New South Wales
One intriguing aspect of Francis' career is his State of Origin eligibility.
Born in Sydney before moving to Brisbane at age 12, he qualified to represent either New South Wales or Queensland.
Despite spending much of his childhood in New South Wales, Francis has committed to the Maroons.
He said representing Queensland means everything to him after building his football career in the state.
Haas has joked with his teammate about the decision, noting many members of Francis' family still support the Blues.
International future still developing
Francis also has multiple international options.
He is eligible to represent Australia, Fiji, France, Lebanon and Tonga, giving him several pathways at Test level.
While he has not formally committed his long term future, reports indicate he is expected to represent Lebanon at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
The teenager previously trained with Tonga during the 2025 Pacific Championships after receiving an invitation through his uncle John Hopoate, describing the experience as one he will always remember.
With representative honours already on the horizon and his NRL debut approaching, Francis appears well placed to become one of Brisbane's next generation stars.