Broncos rake’s bravery revealed as No.9 battle resumes
Joel Gould |
Cory Paix has revealed he played the majority of the 2026 season with a labrum tear and has vowed to fight to keep the starting No.9 jersey he wore in the 2025 grand final win.
Paix, 26, finally had shoulder surgery late in the season after round 22, showcasing the grit and guts that has been a hallmark of his career so far.
He’s back at pre-season training on a modified program and revealed the extent of the injury that finally led to coach Michael Maguire sending him for surgery.
“Yeah, it was tough. I played most of the year with a busted shoulder, so it was just a matter of getting on with it and turning up for my teammates and for this club,” he said.
“That’s what’s required when you put on a Broncos jumper. No matter how you’re feeling, you just get on with the job.
“Once we knew we were in a position to go no further in the competition, Madge thought it was a great idea to get in early and get the shoulder sorted.
“I’m in a really good position to be on track for round one.”
Paix stunned the media contingent in his interview as onlookers were unaware of the extent of the injury.
“I was probably pretty stubborn with it,” he said.
“I felt it pretty early on in the rounds, and it wasn’t until we had a bit of a break that I thought, ‘My shoulder’s no good here’.
“We got it scanned and it turned out it was a labrum tear.
“I had to get a full, sort of zipped-up thing internally. It was an anterior labrum tear and it wrapped around to the back, so I got that all stitched up.”
The battle to be the starting hooker next year at the Broncos is nothing but intriguing.
Paix was the starter in 2026 until his surgery, which paved the way for Billy Walters to make a late season return from an ACL rupture.
Walters was superb in the latter rounds and showed he still had the zip and class he showcased to help take the Broncos to the finals in 2025 before he was injured.
Veteran Ben Hunt wants to play halfback but he is a more than capable hooker who has filled the role at the Broncos and previously for Queensland and Australia.
Young gun Cameron Bukowski moves into the top squad in 2027. He impressed on debut last year and is touted as a future representative player. Bukowski is back at training after wrist surgery.
Rounding out the five is Blake Mozer, who has had an injury-ravaged start to his NRL career. Mozer is on the books for 2027 but his future may rest at another NRL club if he can strike a suitable deal.
Paix is up for the challenge ahead and keen to lift the Broncos from 14th to title contenders again.
“It seems like a big year every year in the nine jumper around here at the moment, which is great,” he said.
“Competition’s great and we’re very fortunate at this club to have some very classy players in that position.
“I’m very determined to get this club back on track. We talk about sustained success, and it starts now with all of our attitude and turning up to win every day.”
AAP