NEWS 'My pick': Carrigan gets nod as next Broncos captain

The Brisbane Broncos captaincy is one of the most prestigious roles in Australian sport, and current lock forward Pat Carrigan has received a ringing endorsement to be next in line.

From Wally Lewis and Allan Langer to Adam Reynolds, the Broncos have been famous for fielding great and highly influential players as skipper.

Reynolds, who tasted title glory last year, will retire at the end of this season as one of just four Broncos captains to win the NRL premiership, with Langer (1992-93 and 1997-98), Kevin Walters (2000) and Darren Lockyer (2006) the others.

Test and Queensland forward Carrigan captained the side in Reynolds' absence last year and impressed with his strong leadership via actions.

The 28-year-old was earlier given the co-captaincy with Brodie Croft in the dark wooden-spoon days of 2020, when regular skipper Alex Glenn missed most of the season.

Carrigan showed great character and learned a lot during that period.

"He's done a lot of great things for this club and he's stood in a number of times," Reynolds said.

"Obviously when I'm not there he's the next man up, and he's a big part of the fabric of this club.

"He's been here for a very long time and I see him as an extremely important leader amongst our team as well, so it's a good headache to manage that.

"We've got a number of leaders in the club that could lead the team out, but he'd be my pick."

Carrigan, with 130 games for the Broncos to his credit, and centre Kotoni Staggs would be the two prime candidates for the job.

Carrigan is signed until 2028 and has the pedigree to take charge.

"I don't really think about it," he said.

"I've always been a big believer in just being myself and trying to uphold that each and every day and perform at a standard I'm proud of and the club can be proud of too.

"I've learned a lot from 'Reyno'. I'm glad he's got the reins for another 12 months, and if those things were to eventuate then they'll eventuate.

"I'm really lucky at this club. There's plenty of boys that are more than capable of leading us into the future, and I think we're in a good position."

If he does get the chance to lead the Broncos, Carrigan knows it will be one of his greatest achievements.

"It'll be massive," he said.

"Each and every day you're learning and you're growing as a person, not only as a footy player.

"I've taken plenty of lessons, ups and downs, over the last eight or nine years that I've been in the club.

"They're all hypotheticals and what-ifs and I don't really read too much into those sort of things.

"I'm loving what I'm doing at the moment and playing with this group of lads."

Canberra Times

 

[Brocko]

If you were an early 20's/mid 20s player that didn't have a family of your own yet, a 2 or 3 year deal in PNG would be very tempting. Considering they'd have to come back to AUS every 2 weeks realistically anyways, maybe some younger guys with families would consider that a good trade off to make bank for a couple years. I think they'll find it easier than Perth to get players personally.

 

[Wolfie]

Im assuming the tax free only counts if you actually live in PNG.

If you spend a fair chunk of time "living" in Australia the ATO is going to want that money

I would presume so.

 

[Renegade]

Staggs in an interview the other day said he doesnt even watch footy outside of training, etc.

His lack of brains for actual footy smarts shows on the field as well.

Yeah I was trying to think of any suitable candidates and couldn't really come up with many. Staggs was the best of the bunch, and probably moreso from a passion perspective rather than any leadership.

 

[broncos4life]

I dont think Pat will go anywhere tbh unless its absolutely stupid money. I think he's just being honest, which i prefer over these players who pretend its not about the money when we all know it is.

Saying that, he's not wrong. Its a huge difference if you are on a $1 million plus contract paying 48% tax to getting the same contract tax free. I can see quite a few players signing 1 or 2 year deals there and raking in some really good coin.

My issue isn’t about if he is being honest or if he wants the most money he can get, but FFS read the room. The media is doing everything it can to destabilise the club and someone who is meant to be such a leader at the club that he is tipped got the captain ship is giving them more ammo. We all love Pat but this is terrible leadership.

 

[the_next]

Staggs in an interview the other day said he doesnt even watch footy outside of training, etc.

His lack of brains for actual footy smarts shows on the field as well.

After his start to the season I’m not the slightest bit surprised. Bloke has gone from a weapon to one game away from needing to spend some time in cup.
There is no way he could be NIL after Carrigan. And I wouldn’t be shocked if we land Barnett if he isn’t in the captaincy question. If patty wants to be Haas 2.0 we might not be left with any better choice.

 

[Wolfie]

My issue isn’t about if he is being honest or if he wants the most money he can get, but FFS read the room. The media is doing everything it can to destabilise the club and someone who is meant to be such a leader at the club that he is tipped got the captain ship is giving them more ammo. We all love Pat but this is terrible leadership.

I dont personally think the media should have any effect on us as a club no matter what we do if we have a strong foundation. I say **** em, do and say whatever we want.

The only way they can destabilise the Broncos is if we have issues in the first place.

 

[Sproj]

Staggs in an interview the other day said he doesnt even watch footy outside of training, etc.

His lack of brains for actual footy smarts shows on the field as well.

Can you blame him? The NRL is awful to watch.

 

[Sproj]

Yeah I was trying to think of any suitable candidates and couldn't really come up with many. Staggs was the best of the bunch, and probably moreso from a passion perspective rather than any leadership.

Walsh? I actually personally wonder whether he might even be a better candidate than Carrigan.

 

[Renegade]

Walsh? I actually personally wonder whether he might even be a better candidate than Carrigan.

I wouldn't give it to him just yet. Someone else post Carrigan (in the event he leaves) as an interim for a couple of years and then Walsh. He is already burdened at times trying to carry the attack on his own, I wouldn't want to give him the extra pressure of the captaincy while he's still working it all out.

 

[broncos4life]

Walsh? I actually personally wonder whether he might even be a better candidate than Carrigan.

Maybe the captaincy can go to whichever dumb **** doesn't talk to the media about not being commitment.

From what I have seen over the years most of our players are amazing athletes but genuine dumb****s so we probably need to set the bar pretty low. If you can go through the season without helping the media with their narratives against us or put out quotes saying you aren't that committed, congratulations you are the captain of The Brisbane Broncos, I look forward to post career when you use the elevated status from that position to join the media and attack the club.

Bunch of *****.

 

[Sproj]

I wouldn't give it to him just yet. Someone else post Carrigan (in the event he leaves) as an interim for a couple of years and then Walsh. He is already burdened at times trying to carry the attack on his own, I wouldn't want to give him the extra pressure of the captaincy while he's still working it all out.

All very valid points. Its all probably moot obviously since Patty is captain elect, it would just be nice if our idiots actually followed their obvious media training and just say they want to be a Bronco for life and leave it at that. Even Shibasaki can do that and he doesn't come across as the sharpest tool in the shed. So why can't a highly intelligent (compared to your average player) Carrigan understand the value of doing the same.

Or is he currently in negotiations with the Broncs for an extension and using the media to try and push his own price up? If so, pretty self-serving whatever the case.

 

[Renegade]

All very valid points. Its all probably moot obviously since Patty is captain elect, it would just be nice if our idiots actually followed their obvious media training and just say they want to be a Bronco for life and leave it at that. Even Shibasaki can do that and he doesn't come across as the sharpest tool in the shed. So why can't a highly intelligent (compared to your average player) Carrigan understand the value of doing the same.

Or is he currently in negotiations with the Broncs for an extension and using the media to try and push his own price up? If so, pretty self-serving whatever the case.

I dunno I haven't seen the interview just whatever was said, I think it's probably just a throwaway line but look it's all a business and they gotta make their money while their bodies are upto it. If someone asked you hey you know, if a possible scenario came up where you could make bulk coin and set the rest of your life up, you'd be silly to go yeah nah. Like you said, it probably puts him into a bit of a corner for whatever contract negotiations are underway. We've a history of lowballing our key players so gotta protect yourself first.

 

[Sproj]

I dunno I haven't seen the interview just whatever was said, I think it's probably just a throwaway line but look it's all a business and they gotta make their money while their bodies are upto it. If someone asked you hey you know, if a possible scenario came up where you could make bulk coin and set the rest of your life up, you'd be silly to go yeah nah. Like you said, it probably puts him into a bit of a corner for whatever contract negotiations are underway. We've a history of lowballing our key players so gotta protect yourself first.

“It's a business, mate … you learn how this game goes,"

“I will say, when I grew up, the only jersey I ever saw myself wearing was a Broncos jersey. I'm happy doing that at the moment and I'm loving that.

“But I think there'd be a fair list of boys trying to join that PNG crew if it's tax-free dollars, that's for sure.”

“I think if you ask any working Australian if tax-free dollars would be attractive to them, they would say the same, too,”

“Outside of the financial gains that you can have, there's a lot of cool things to be said in going to start a franchise in a country like PNG where they live and breathe rugby league.

“For me that's probably something that would appeal more if I was ever in that position.

“It's a national game in PNG. People love rugby league there and you would get to provide a smile to millions of people that are a little bit less fortunate than us in Australia."

“I think the financial gain would probably speak to a lot of players, but outside of that I think a lot of boys could see the upside in that (promoting the game to PNG people), too.”

 

[Renegade]

Thanks for the writeup brother.
TBH I can't see too much wrong with what he said.
I can't see him leaving but if he does he's served us well and owes us nothing.

 

[Morkel]

If he said he wants to be a Bronco for life, and then does go signing for someone else (even for a justifiable pay day), he'll be called a liar and a traitor and ripped to shreds.

Maybe he could have said something along the lines of "I'd love to be a Bronco for life, but you just can't rule out anything life-changing if it happens to come along".

 

[FACTHUNT]

I don't know Patty personally, but I do know his extended family. Patty is a homebody and is renovating his place at the GC, it's going to be fully bespoke by the sounds. I really can't see him ever leaving, even for just a few years to get paid. To me, it seems like the NRL is enforcing players to make it sound like they actually would consider it.

No way in hell he'd live in a 2 bedroom villa in a gated compound in one of the most dangerous cities on earth.

Imagine if they said what they really thought about living in PNG, regardless of the money. And BTW, these dudes, particularly our squad, are unbelievably loaded. Many of them bought numerous SEQ properties from 2018-2021...

 

[Mr Fourex]

“It's a business, mate … you learn how this game goes,"

“I will say, when I grew up, the only jersey I ever saw myself wearing was a Broncos jersey. I'm happy doing that at the moment and I'm loving that.

“But I think there'd be a fair list of boys trying to join that PNG crew if it's tax-free dollars, that's for sure.”

“I think if you ask any working Australian if tax-free dollars would be attractive to them, they would say the same, too,”

“Outside of the financial gains that you can have, there's a lot of cool things to be said in going to start a franchise in a country like PNG where they live and breathe rugby league.

“For me that's probably something that would appeal more if I was ever in that position.

“It's a national game in PNG. People love rugby league there and you would get to provide a smile to millions of people that are a little bit less fortunate than us in Australia."

“I think the financial gain would probably speak to a lot of players, but outside of that I think a lot of boys could see the upside in that (promoting the game to PNG people), too.”

Thanks for the clarification.

As I suspected, false outrage and panty twisting from some parts around here.

 

[Wolfie]

I can still see the appeal even living in PNG. Not getting nearly half of your pay taken away is an incredible incentive to make that sacrifice for a couple of years, especially for players coming towards the end of their careers. Its going to be like players going to England to finish their careers, or even a good place for average ones to earn big money.