NRL 2023: Wayne Bennett’s pitch to Pat Carrigan revealed - and why it was knocked back
This is the inside story of Wayne Bennett’s bid to lure Pat Carrigan to the Dolphins and why the Brisbane lock knocked back the man who signed him to the Broncos.
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Pat Carrigan has revealed he knocked back interest from several NRL clubs, including Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins, in his quest to be a Bronco for life and spearhead a new premiership dynasty at Brisbane.
In his first interview since inking a $4 million extension, Carrigan outlined why he stayed loyal to the Broncos ahead of Friday night’s Battle of Brisbane blockbuster against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.
Carrigan was one of the most sought-after forwards in the code, with the Queensland Origin star having attracted interest from six NRL rivals, headlined by Canberra, Melbourne and two Sydney-based clubs.
The Dolphins were the first club to try and poach Carrigan.
Upon being granted the NRL’s 17th licence, the Dolphins drew up a hit list of targets and Bennett was so keen on Carrigan the super coach personally met with the Broncos lock to spruik his Redcliffe roadmap for premiership success.
But on the eve of the historic Brisbane-Dolphins showdown, Carrigan said he never seriously considered joining Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth in the Red Hill exodus as he sets his sights on breaking the Broncos’ 17-year title drought.
“I just want to win comps at the Broncos,” said Carrigan, now locked in at Brisbane until the end of 2027.
“It’s great to have my future sorted.
“It was nice to have that interest, but I didn’t get the chance to become a free agent. I wanted to commit long-term and show the Broncos that faith, because they helped me become the player I have become here.
“I was five or six (years old) when the Broncos last won the comp in 2006 and I have faint memories of that.
“I want to be able to bring that to the next generation of kids in Brisbane. There is a feeling like no other when you win in this city and you are playing good footy, it would be great to bring a premiership back to Brisbane.
“A lot of great players have played for this club. They had that era of success ... and I would love to build that dynasty again at the Broncos.”
In his meeting with Carrigan, Bennett told the Broncos ironman the most important thing in the development of a young player is not picking up bad habits, continuing to evolve, and having senior champions as mentors.
At the Dolphins, Carrigan could have been mentored by Storm premiership-winning forward trio Jesse and Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi.
The 25-year-old, rated a possible captaincy successor to Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds, was flattered by Bennett’s interest given their history at Red Hill.
Carrigan was on the cusp of his NRL debut when Bennett parted ways with the Broncos in December 2018.
“I signed my first NRL deal with Wayne over at the old training base,” Carrigan recalls.
“It was me, dad and Wayne and I wanted to stay at the Broncos because we had guys like Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday and ‘Moose’ (Josh McGuire).
“Their team was stacked with Queensland and Australian players.
“I was under Wayne for two years before the whole swap happened (with Anthony Seibold in 2019) and I was grateful for what Wayne did for me in that period of time.
“He just cares about the individual. He wants you to enjoy yourself but also be a good person and just your habits off the field, he says your habits off the field can come back to bite you on the field.
“Committing to the Broncos was a timing sort of thing.
“The Broncos just felt right and, in a way, I took the gamble. We had some tough times (under Seibold) but all I’ve ever wanted to do is raise a trophy for the Broncos.
“I could have done that for the Dolphins, but I want to do it in a Broncos jersey.
“I like what ‘Kevvie’ (Broncos coach Kevin Walters) is building here and the mateship we have.
“The stress is out of my game and, with the new deal, I’m really content.
“I would love to play out my career here.”
Walters said he was rapt to stave off Bennett’s Dolphins to retain Carrigan, who plays his 64th NRL match in the expansion derby and is on track to become a 200-gamer at the Broncos.
“It’s a huge boost for everyone that Pat stayed loyal,” Walters said.
“He has been in our Academy, he has progressed through the under-20s into first grade and it’s been some tough going for the club.
“But Pat has stayed faithful, stayed loyal and he can see much better days ahead.
“It’s nice and very rewarding for him because he has accelerated quickly the last few years to the position he is in now and we wanted to reward him for becoming an Origin and Test player.”
WAYNE’S SLEDGE AS HE PROPS UP
Tom Flegler has broken his silence on his decision to quit the Broncos as Wayne Bennett fired an expansion shot at rivals Brisbane by declaring he will make the front-row enforcer a better player at the Dolphins.
Flegler rocked the Broncos by inking a $3 million deal with the Dolphins last month and the Queensland Origin prop will confront his future employer in Friday night’s historic Battle of Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
The hulking prop has struggled for consistency and discipline at the Broncos but the Dolphins are revelling in the big-money poaching raid that saw Bennett steal Flegler and Herbie Farnworth from Red Hill.
Flegler was strong against the Dragons on Saturday night, charging for 155 metres in the 40-18 win, and is determined to leave the Broncos with a premiership before he links with the Dolphins.
“I’m relieved my future is out of the way. I wanted to get it sorted before round 1,” Flegler said.
“It was just a decision I wanted to make for my future.
“With where I’m at, I feel I can play my best football there, but I’m trying not to worry too much about next year.
“Wayne is a great coach, but I’m not thinking about Redcliffe right now or how they go this season with all due respect.
“It’s about the Broncos this year and I want to keep winning for them.
“I want the Broncos guys to know I will give them my all this season. I know I’m parting ways and I want to make this our year.
“I believe we can go a long way in this comp and I don’t want to be distracted by anything else.
“We have a big season ahead and I would love to win a premiership.”
Speaking for the first time about his successful signing of Flegler, Bennett believes he will inherit a hard-running, offloading powerhouse who, at 23, is entering his prime years in the engine room.
As the Broncos lick their wounds over the loss of Flegler, Bennett is confident he will take the Tully tearaway to another level at the Dolphins.
“I am very pleased to get Tom,” Bennett said.
“We have not seen the best of Tom that’s for sure.
“I hope the next part of his playing career will see him bring his best at the Dolphins.
“I am confident it will happen, but he has to do the hard work.”
Bennett scoffed at suggestions Flegler could be a risky signing because of his NRL judiciary record.
“If his discipline worried me, I wouldn’t have made the effort to sign him,” he said.
“That’s not who Tom is. I’m not worried about that.
“The great thing about Tom is he is only 23. He is so young as a front-rower and he will learn a lot from guys like the Bromwich boys (Kenny and Jesse) and Felise (Kaufusi).
“He and Herbie will bring a lot of long-term benefits to our club.”
BRONCOS STEP UP HAAS BID AS DOLPHINS CIRCLE
- Peter Badel
Brisbane bosses will move to extend Payne Haas’ contract as the star prop declared he has no plans to reunite with Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett – the man who lured him to the Broncos.
Brisbane chiefs secured Pat Carrigan to a $4 million retention last week and now they will turn their attention to Haas, who will be Brisbane’s front-row spearhead in Friday night’s blockbuster against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.
Haas is off-contract at the end of next season and while he shocked the club with his request for a release last year, that drama has been resolved, to the extent that the NSW Origin enforcer wants to lead Brisbane’s ‘Kev-olution’.
Bennett’s Dolphins are viewed as a major threat to Brisbane’s hopes of retaining Haas.
When Bennett was putting together his inaugural Dolphins squad last year, he had one eye on the future with Haas, who was on the verge of signing with Melbourne as a teenager before a meeting with the super coach sealed his signature for Brisbane.
While Haas will forever be indebted to Bennett for guiding him through his formative years as a 17-year-old at the Broncos, the NRL’s No.1 prop believes he can win a premiership ring at Brisbane under coach Kevin Walters.
“I am here for another two years. I really enjoy Kevvie,” said Haas, who was cleared by the NRL match-review committee of a high shot to play in the Dolphins derby.
“He is always there for me. I’ve got a good relationship with Kev.
“I’m just here to try and play good footy under him. He has been really good for me, especially when I’ve had a few things go on (with off-field dramas).
“I’ve got nothing but love for Kev. He’s a real good coach and really cares for us.
“I have got lots of respect for Wayne. He was the reason I came to the Broncos.
“I was legit about to sign the contract that was on the table at the Storm. Wayne called me at the last minute and made the last pitch to me. Thanks to Wayne I am at Brisbane. I haven’t looked back since.
“Being coached by Wayne Bennett is pretty special. I just wanted to stay at Brisbane for Wayne but that’s done ... now I’m enjoying Kev.”
Brisbane chief executive Dave Donaghy says the Broncos have no intention of losing their three-time Paul Morgan Medallist, especially to Bennett’s Dolphins.
“I have only known Payne since I have been here and he has hugely impressed me with his professionalism and incredible work ethic and incredible engine,” Donaghy said.
“He is incredibly popular amongst the group.
“Kevvie has supported and backed him into the leadership group and it’s an area that we have clearly seen him really blossom as a player and person.”
Haas is Brisbane’s highest-paid player on $848,000 this season and he underlined his value yet again with another barnstorming display in the Broncos’ 40-18 slaying of the Dragons on Saturday night.
The 23-year-old terrorised the Red V with 198 metres from 18 runs and there will be front-row fireworks in the inaugural Battle of Brisbane when he goes toe-to-toe with Dolphins enforcer Jesse Bromwich.
“We have marked this derby on our calendar and we really want to win it,” Haas said.
“It is pretty special. No-one would have picked that (the Dolphins being 3-0) at the start of the year but it has happened now.
“You don’t need any more motivation than a derby game, especially the Battle of Brisbane against a team coached by Wayne Bennett.
“They are going to be up for this. He loves getting one over the Broncos. They are going to be ready for us and we just have to match them.”
Haas’ fellow middle-forward workhorse Carrigan hopes his good mate inks a new deal to build a Broncos dynasty.
“It would be pretty cool if Payne stayed,” Carrigan said.
“The thought that me and Payno could be playing in different jerseys is something I don’t want to happen.
“Payne typifies what this club is about.
“As a club, if we can build around Payne, you know your standards will be safe in terms of football culture.
“I would love to play out my career with Payne here. We want to win a comp together. If he chooses to go somewhere else, I would understand, but I don’t want him to go.”
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Originally published as NRL 2023: Wayne Bennett’s pitch to Pat Carrigan revealed - and why it was knocked back
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