Michael Maguire has to try and fit five players into two spots in 2025.
Broncos hooker Cory Paix has vowed to remain at the club and fight for a spot in first-grade, despite NRL great Scott Sattler predicting he’ll end up at the Gold Coast Titans. Piax is stuck in a hooking battle with Billy Walters, Blake Mozer and Tyson Smoothy at the Brisbane club, and hasn’t been able to crack first-grade in recent years.
Walters became the starting hooker during father Kevin’s reign, but it’s believed new coach Michael Maguire is leaning towards using young gun Mozer in the No.9 this year. Complicating matters is the fact Ben Hunt will likely switch from five-eighth to hooker when Ezra Mam returns from his suspension in Round 10.
It means five hookers are competing for just two spots, and Sattler predicted late last year that Paix might be at a new club soon. “Cory Paix is a fine young footy player, and whether it’s because of injury or whatever reason, he hasn’t been able to play consistent footy,” Sattler said on SEN radio. “But I think he could be a good signing for the Gold Coast Titans. The Titans have one of the best forward packs in the competition.
“I think Cory Paix is a fine player and he’d be a really good signing for any team if that’s the decision the Broncos make. He’s also on a lot of money for a player who isn’t playing a lot of first grade but should be.”
Last week, former NRL player Joel Caine predicted one of the Broncos hookers will end up at Parramatta. Brendan Hands and Joey Lussick shared time at No.9 at the Eels last year, but neither set the world on fire.
Cory Paix vows to remain at Brisbane Broncos
But speaking on Monday, Paix declared he has no intention of leaving the Broncos and wants to prove to Maguire he should be playing first-grade. One of Maguire’s first moves when he arrived at the Broncos was assuring Paix and Kobe Hetherington they had a future at the club after Kevin Walters had told them they could explore other options.
“It is a good feeling, and the easy option would have been to leave,” Paix said. “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.”
Paix revealed there’s no animosity between the hookers at the club, despite their battle for spots. “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 said.
“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.”
Speaking to SEN radio last week, Maguire said: “I’m very spoilt for choice in that (hooker) department, but that will all sort itself out. They understand that I can only select one or two when you play each weekend, but it’s good fun to watch them at training.”
