logo
Broncos hooker still holds hope for 2026 contract offer

Broncos hooker still holds hope for 2026 contract offer

The Advertiser29-05-2025
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Collingwood recruit Dan Houston in the gun for two crucial errors in loss to Brisbane
Collingwood recruit Dan Houston in the gun for two crucial errors in loss to Brisbane

7NEWS

time17 minutes ago

  • 7NEWS

Collingwood recruit Dan Houston in the gun for two crucial errors in loss to Brisbane

Collingwood recruit Dan Houston gave away two crucial free kicks as Brisbane defeated the Magpies by 27 points in a classic at the MCG. In a match was fitting of a final, the Lions had all the answers to boost their top-two hopes with three matches left in the season. While Brisbane fully deserved the victory, Houston had a night to forget. After having just three touches in the first half, the gun defender gave away a crucial high tackle free kick to Zac Bailey in the shadows of three-quarter time. Bailey converted to push the margin out to 19 points at the final change. During a tense final term and the margin still hovering out 20 points, Houston was again at fault, this time tackle Logan Morris high in the pocket. Houston was furious with the decision and argued with the umpire as he watched a replay on the big screen. The young forward finished expertly for his sixth of the night to land the knockout blow. Houston, a two-time All-Australian, has failed to reach those lofty heights since joining the Pies from Port Adelaide in the off-season. While Morris will grab the headlines for his incredible six-goal haul, the midfield quartet of Hugh McCluggage, Josh Dunkley, Will Ashcroft and Lachie Neale were outstanding. Young forward Henry Smith also bobbed up with three crucial goals in the first half.

Lions roar back in style against flat Magpies
Lions roar back in style against flat Magpies

Perth Now

time17 minutes ago

  • Perth Now

Lions roar back in style against flat Magpies

The Brisbane Lions have responded from a QClash debacle to knock off Collingwood by 27 points in a potential grand final preview in front of 82,326 fans. After suffering a 66-point belting by Gold Coast last Saturday, the reigning premiers roared back to defeat the Magpies at the MCG for the first time since 2014. Leading by 19 points at three-quarter time, Brisbane had to overcome some nerves in the final term to win 14.8 (92) to 10.5 (65) in front of the biggest home-and-away for a non-Victorian team. Emerging forward Logan Morris bagged a career-best six goals in a commanding display - the first Lions player to kick that many majors in a MCG game since Jonathan Brown in 2004. Morris had terrific support from young ruck-forward Henry Smith, who slotted three first-half goals in his first game for 2025. Smith came in to replace sore Oscar McInerney, who continues to struggle with a debilitating back injury. Darcy Fort and Smith battled manfully against star Collingwood ruck Darcy Cameron, helping the Lions comfortably win the clearance battle 50-36. After being towelled up by Suns stars Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson last week, premiership stars Lachie Neale (36 disposals) and Hugh McCluggage (34) were outstanding in the middle. Brisbane were dealt a major blow to their defensive structure when they lost premiership veteran Ryan Lester to concussion at the start of the second quarter. Trailing by 20 points at quarter-time, Collingwood powered ahead with five goals to two in the second term, including a long bomb to returning star Jordan De Goey. But after being sidelined for three months, the Magpies opted to take it easy with their dynamic ace, subbing him out during the third quarter. Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill, who has missed a month due to personal reasons, came into the game for De Goey. Hill flew for a trademark speccy in the last quarter after Lions star Will Ashcroft inexplicably kicked across goal. The Pies' second term was the only period when they looked close to their best, managing just three goals after halftime in a concerning form line so close to September. It was Collingwood's third defeat in four matches, meaning they will finish the round off the top of the ladder, replaced by surging Adelaide. The Daicos brothers, Nick and Josh, were typically dominant early, but their influence faded as the game went on. It was the Magpies' first loss to the Lions since round 23, 2023, having won their previous four games against Brisbane.

NRLW Magic Round begins with a historic draw between Bulldogs and Gold Coast
NRLW Magic Round begins with a historic draw between Bulldogs and Gold Coast

The Australian

time5 hours ago

  • The Australian

NRLW Magic Round begins with a historic draw between Bulldogs and Gold Coast

Canterbury and the Titans have fought tooth and nail to secure the NRLW's first ever draw, splitting the premiership points on the back of a 14-14 score line. Kicking off the NRLW's inaugural Magic Round in very wet conditions in Newcastle, each side headed into the clash with a 2-2 record, and a point to prove at McDonald Jones Stadium. Locked at 14-14, both sides continually shot themselves in the foot, turning it over in the torrential rain before the siren rang to send the contest into golden point. The Bulldogs parked themselves in the opposition's red zone for the bulk of the extra period, skipper Tayla Preston's first attempt at a one-pointer wide before, and Chapman racing up to throw her off before her second snap. Neither side could find the field position in the second period, the siren ringing out to signal the first draw in the competition's eight-season history. Players were dropping like flies to start the contest, Gold Coast winger Lily Patston carried off after 90 seconds while Canterbury were momentarily left with a one-woman bench in the first ten minutes. A simple sweep saw Jaime Chapman swing to the left to put Georgia Grey over in the corner for the first-ever women's Magic Round try, before Natasha Penitani doubled the advantage a few minutes later, crashing over next to the sticks. Enter, Canterbury's halves. The Bulldogs No. 6 and 7 in Ash Quinlan and Preston dragged Canterbury back into the affair, albeit in different methods. Quinlan fired an absolute bullet through the air for winger Elizabeth MacGregor to put the blue and white on the board, the rookie crossing the line untouched. Veteran half Lauren Brown kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Titans, shaping to kick in-field before turning her body, putting a deft grubber through the line for Jasmine Solia to snatch a 14-4 halftime lead. Preston had the Bulldogs humming early in the second stanza, a brilliant 40/20 leading to another Quinlan bullet pass the next set, this time Monica Tagoia dotting down. The left-edge was humming for Canterbury, finding success again minutes later on the back of a simple shift, handing MacGregor her fourth try in just two NRLW games. It was a double whammy for the Titans, losing the lead as well as Solia, with the Bunker finding high contact from the edge forward in the lead up, leaving Solia in the sin bin and Tagoai on a medicab. The draw leaves both sides just outside the top four after five rounds, and despite the constant downpour, there's little doubt there's more magic to come this weekend. NRL The Cowboys have suffered a blow 24-hours before their crucial Sharks clash, with a star ruled out after failing to overcome an injury. See all the predicted team changes for Round 22. NRL Channel 9 faces backlash over NRL scheduling in the run to the finals, Russell Crowe puts a high price on Bunnies and why the NRL should fear how agents can cash in on the rebel rugby 360 competition.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store