How Maguire saved banished Bronco’s NRL career
George Clarke |
Cory Paix could have been forgiven for thinking his time as a Brisbane player was over when he was dropped midway through the Broncos’ run to their last grand final in 2023.
Paix didn’t play a single minute of NRL under former coach Kevin Walters in 2024 and was demoted to the Queensland Cup where he was named hooker of the year while turning out for part-timers Wynnum Manly.
But the arrival of Michael Maguire as Walters’ Red Hill replacement over the off-season gave the 25-year-old a new lease of life.
Paix saw off competition from Billy Walters and Tyson Smoothy to make the Brisbane No. 9 jersey his own and will start in Sunday’s grand final against Melbourne.
“I didn’t get a single minute on the field (in 2024) that was disappointing, but I was always told as a young kid to go back out and in whatever jersey, play to the best of your ability,” Paix told AAP.
“There were certainly some days there where it could have been a possibility that my time was done at the Broncos.
“When Madge came along, it was a clean slate for everyone.
“It wasn’t just me, everyone pretty much had to start over again and go and prove ourselves and prove our worth to him.
“There were conversations (about leaving) and that was all done with my agent, but ultimately I came back to him and said I had a contract and I wasn’t leaving.”
Paix’s decision has proved a wise one for both the hooker and the Broncos.
Brisbane have won 15 of the 18 games Paix has started in the No.9 jersey across the 2025 season and the hardworking rake has earned an extension for next year.
Remaining in Brisbane is a bonus for him given his partner Keeley will miss the grand final as they await the birth of their first child.
“We’re about a week or two away from having a little boy and to keep close to family was important to us,” Paix said.
“We’ve been advised for her to stay home, which is unfortunate, because I know how much she loves supporting me.”
Paix was once viewed as a long-term halfback for Brisbane after playing as a No.7 in Queensland’s Under 20s State of Origin team in 2019.
Former Broncos coach Anthony Seibold moved him to hooker and while he concedes he isn’t as flashy as Melbourne dummy-half Harry Grant, Paix says he’s at home in the middle of the field.
“They liked to say that I was ‘the next Cooper Cronk’ and this and that,” Paix said.
“I really enjoyed my time in the juniors growing up as No.7, but certainly playing hooker, it’s got a great feel about it. It’s in my DNA to play hooker – I love the hard stuff.”
AAP
