Paix gets off to a clean start in the race for Broncos No.9

Cory Paix hopes his work ethic and willingness to do whatever it takes will help him win the Broncos' hooking role under new coach Michael Maguire.

The Hostplus Cup hooker of the year last season and did not feature in the NRL at all in 2024 but he has not given up hope of adding to his 44 appearances, especially after being assured by Maguire that he has a future with Brisbane.

“It's a clean start for everyone really, isn't it? Get to come in here and work hard and Madge demands that, and I think that suits my style, so I think if we can all adapt to that and train really hard it sets us up for a really good season,” Paix said.

“It is a good feeling (to be wanted) and I suppose the easy option would have been to leave, but as stubborn as I am, I like to dig my heels in and give it a red-hot crack … working hard is in my nature, I've been brought up that way and it’s a clean page for me, so I get to go around again and put my foot forward.”

However, the fact remains there is plenty of competition for the position with incumbent Billy Walters and young gun Blake Mozer pressing their case alongside prodigal son Ben Hunt, who is touted to slot into a hooker role upon the return from suspension of Ezra Mam.

Despite the internal rivalry between the dummy half cohort, the Toowoomba junior has said the competition was a positive thing and was helping bring out the best in all of the players. 

“No one's guaranteed a spot here and I feel like Madge has put it down to whoever wants to work hardest and displays all the quality he wants in a hooking role or any sort of position,” said Paix, whose last game at NRL was Round 27, 2023.

“It's quite funny, most people would think we don't get along at all because there's so many hookers here and there's tense competition, but we've actually got a really good connection here …

“It's really good. As far as the young people go like Mozer, he might be pulling me up on something and vice versa, I might be doing the same to Bill or, he might be doing it to either of us, so I feel like our connection there within the hooking group is really solid.

"That's what we need to have here; we need to have great culture, first and foremost.

“We obviously have got a long season in front of us and a long pre-season, so it seems at the moment, but it would feel pretty special (to earn a spot back), but there's plenty of work to be done in front of me.

“I feel like if I just keep chipping away day-in, day-out, doing the small things and working hard on that and that puts me in good stead.

“I thought I played some pretty good footy throughout (last) year as well, so I was really pleased in that sense.

“I just go out there and display the qualities that I have and again just work hard.”