Broncos hooker still holds hope for 2026 contract offer
Joel Gould |
Off-contract starting Brisbane hooker Cory Paix is yet to receive an offer for next year but he’s philosophical about uncertainty over his future.
“I would love to be a Bronco for life but sometimes in life you don’t always get what you want,” the 25-year-old said.
Paix is the only Broncos hooker in the top-30 squad without a deal for 2026.
Veteran Billy Walters is contracted until the end of next year, young gun Blake Mozer secured an extension through until the end of 2027, although the club is yet to announce it, and Tyson Smoothy will join Wakefield Trinity on a three-year deal from 2026.
Ben Hunt, currently injured, is also on contract until the end of next year, and with Ezra Mam now back in the side at five-eighth Hunt is expected to be utilised as a hooker or No.14 when he returns.
Mozer’s management has met with Brisbane in the past week and the club has made it clear they want to keep him, but so far no offer has been tabled.
Paix returns to the starting side away against Manly on Saturday night. He started in the opening six rounds of the competition and has played the last five off the interchange bench.
“I need to go out and play some good footy first before I get a contract. That’s at the forefront this weekend,” he said.
Paix wants to stay at a club that “means the world” to him.
“I came here straight out of school and even during school I was part of the junior academy,” he said.
“I have got my family close by and obviously the Broncos have spent a lot of time on me developing me into the person and player I am. Brissie is home to me.”
The Broncos have won four games when Paix started this season and only one when he hasn’t. He said he was “super excited” to be back in the No.9 jersey.
“My job doesn’t change too much,” he said.
“I spoke with Madge (coach Michael Maguire) and worked on a few things in key areas he thought I could get better at. I thought I went away and done that. Now it is time for me to step up. We haven’t been getting the results lately.”
The Broncos have lost five of their past six matches and it is second half collapses that have let them down.
“If we can fix up little minor things that we have identified then I think we will give ourselves enough energy at the back end of games to really compete and go after it,” Paix said.
Brisbane have won just twice at Brookvale Oval in the last 33 years.
The Broncos have not played away against Manly since 2014 due to an agreement from the Sea Eagles to host their “home” game at Suncorp Stadium during Magic Round.
Brisbane’s last victory at Manly was in 2010, a 22-6 win when Darren Lockyer was captain of the club.
In 16 games at the venue since 1988 the Sea Eagles hold a 10-5 advantage with one drawn.
AAP
