NEWS 'Heels in' as Paix queues up for chance with Broncos

Undaunted by the queue for spots, hooker Cory Paix is convinced he's the type of NRL player Michael Maguire is looking for at Brisbane.

The 24-year-old didn't feature for the Broncos last season, Kevin Walters preferring son Billy, Tyson Smoothy and Blake Mozer at dummy-half as the side missed finals for a third time in four seasons.

Those four remain at the club but the coach does not, Walters replaced by Maguire in a shake-up Paix says prompted some introspection at last week's pre-season training camp.

"It was a great opportunity to get together and really have a dig," Paix said on Monday of their police-style boot camp.

"There's some stuff in there we'd probably like to keep in-house, but it's about finding our identity.

"Some testing times in there; you find out a bit about yourself, which is good for people to find where they were at."

Paix played 44 games across four seasons at Brisbane, including a career-high 15 in 2023.

But, on the outer in 2024, Paix dominated as an 80-minute hooker for Wynnum Manly and was named the Queensland Cup's player of the year in his position.

Off-contract after this season, he could have taken an NRL opportunity elsewhere.

But, known for his terrific training standards, the Toowoomba native has relished Maguire's arrival at Red Hill.

"It is a good feeling, and the easy option would have been to leave," Paix said of Maguire wanting him to stick around.

"As stubborn as I am, I like to dig my heels in and give it a red hot crack.

"Working hard's in my nature; I've been brought up that way.

"He's put it down to whoever wants to work the hardest (will earn a shot) ... so I'll keep chipping away."

The Broncos will play Gold Coast in a pre-season trial in Paix's home town of Toowoomba on February 16, a clash he admits bears weight for those vying for the No.9.

"Most people would think we don't get along at all ... we have a really good connection, among all 20 of us or however many are here," he quipped.

"I'll just be myself; I can't be who they are.

"It is a clean start for everyone, isn't it?

"Get in, work hard and it suits my style. If we can all adapt to that, it sets us up for a good season."

Canberra Times

 

[Foordy]

Dude .
Fletcher Baker didn`t make the QCup team of the year . I think Paix has a higher market value . But doesn`t want to shift house .
Knows that fall out with Kevvie was personal not professional ...

I don't think Paix will get a higher market value.

Even with Kevvies departure and Madge's arrival, I don't see him climbing the hooking pecking order. In fact he may even slip further down with Hunt on the books

 

[Bucking Beads]

We have to move on 2 of these 9's we have. Our squad is so poorly balanced because of the surplus to requirements players we have.

 

[Big Del]

I don't think Paix will get a higher market value.

Even with Kevvies departure and Madge's arrival, I don't see him climbing the hooking pecking order. In fact he may even slip further down with Hunt on the books

Oh well .
Just a few weeks till the trials . That will tell us more .

PS I think Fletcher Baker will have a much improved showing this year if he is properly fit . Seemed to me he didn`t have the cardio to keep his performance at the req level .

 

[Sproj]

I have been re-watching some 2023 games and honestly, Paix was pretty good and with his speed off the mark, he would compliment our team's weapons well. He offers a lot of different things to Billy, Tyson and Blake. It really will be interesting to see which ones match Maguire's desired style.

 

[Harry Sack]

Gotta go other way around, otherwise mozer will sign somewhere else. I keep forgetting paix got qcup hooker of the year, he is probably a genuine look-in.

By the end of the year, I don't think it matters. Assuming everyone is fit, Mam and Reynolds are in the halves and it's Hunt and Mozer sharing hooker IMO. I think Mozer being 14 to Hunts 9 will be far more palatable to him, as opposed to being behind a Smoothy or Paix.

 

[Harry Sack]

I have been re-watching some 2023 games and honestly, Paix was pretty good and with his speed off the mark, he would compliment our team's weapons well. He offers a lot of different things to Billy, Tyson and Blake. It really will be interesting to see which ones match Maguire's desired style.

Genuinely keen to see what he has to offer given the obvious issue between him and Kev. Also very keen to see what our other 'rejects' from last year can do. Baker etc.

 

[tommy]

By the end of the year, I don't think it matters. Assuming everyone is fit, Mam and Reynolds are in the halves and it's Hunt and Mozer sharing hooker IMO. I think Mozer being 14 to Hunts 9 will be far more palatable to him, as opposed to being behind a Smoothy or Paix.

Yeah same because hunt is old.....and has experience coming out his ears. I don't think it would bother him being behind hunt for a year or even 2. How long did hunt sign for? Anyway if this is Reynolds last season hunt goes to hb next year I guess. I don't know anything about that young halfback we've got..........

 

[bb_gun]

Who was Paix's main competition in Qcup that saw him win best hooker?

 

[Big Del]

I have been re-watching some 2023 games and honestly, Paix was pretty good and with his speed off the mark, he would compliment our team's weapons well. He offers a lot of different things to Billy, Tyson and Blake. It really will be interesting to see which ones match Maguire's desired style.

Damien Cook Style ?
It worked once before .