By Joel Gould and George Clarke
Brisbane have re-signed utility Cory Paix until the end of the 2025 NRL season in a boost to the club’s stocks in the hooking position.
The 23-year-old is set to fight it out with Billy Walters in the early stages of 2023 for the starting No.9 jersey.
Cory Paix celebrates after scoring a try for the Broncos in round seven against the Canterbury Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium in April last year.Credit:Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Walters, who is on contract until the end of 2024, was the starting hooker for most of last season and is favoured to get the jump this year in the initial stages.
Paix will keep him honest and is highly regarded for his speed, toughness, work ethic and utility value.
Paix, one of four hookers in the Broncos squad, can also play in the halves, as does incumbent Billy Walters. Credit:Getty images
He can also play in the halves, as does Walters, and is likely to be in the playing 17 each week at the start of the Broncos’ NRL campaign where he can provide genuine spark as a No.14.
Paix played 12 games for Brisbane last year, all off the bench, and the side won nine of them.
Hooker Jake Turpin was also on the books at the Broncos in 2022 but his move to the Roosters this season will give Paix the opportunity to get more opportunities and show his wares.
The Toowoomba-born utility has played 29 NRL games for Brisbane after representing Queensland under 20s in 2019.
The Broncos now have four hookers in their squad with highly rated teenager Blake Mozer under contract until the end of 2025 and former Melbourne Storm rake Tyson Smooth signed for this year.
Mozer will play Queensland Cup initially this year at Souths-Logan but the Keebra Park High product is regarded as one of the most promising young hookers ever signed by the Broncos and is tipped for a lengthy NRL career.
Smoothy has been named to play at hooker in Brisbane’s trial with Wynnum-Manly on Saturday.
– AAP
