By Nick Wright
Broncos star Pat Carrigan has confirmed he is open to a shift to the front row, in a move that would accommodate Kobe Hetherington and provide balance to an under-fire forward pack.
The Brisbane skipper-in-waiting has made his name as the club’s lock, rising to take the No.13 jumper for the Queensland Maroons as an established State of Origin figure.
However, incoming coach Michael Maguire’s desire to retain Hetherington’s services – after he was given permission to explore his options – triggered speculation that he could feature more prominently than the bench role he had taken during Kevin Walters’ tutelage.
Pat Carrigan has confirmed a move to prop is on the cards.Credit: Getty
Carrigan ultimately played prop for the Kangaroos in their Pacific Championships triumph last year, and revealed on Friday, after a gruelling opposed session where he appeared to play in the front row, he would be willing to make the change.
“Yeah of course, I think we’re just playing with a few things as a club, but whatever position I have to play, it is what it is,” Carrigan said.
“Kobe’s a fine talent who’s more than capable of playing 13 at any other club in the NRL, so we’re both competing for whatever spot it is in the forward pack.
“He’s a tough old fella. I’m excited for what he’s going to do this year because he’s had a really good preseason.”
The loss of Thomas Flegler, Kurt Capewell and Keenan Palasia from the Broncos’ 2023 grand final side left gaping voids in the engine room, as they ran for the competition’s fewest post-contact metres last year before slumping to a 12th-place finish.
That gulf grew bigger when Payne Haas succumbed to multiple injury concerns and managed just 14 games.
The marquee prop has spent most of the preseason in rehab after undergoing Lisfranc surgery at the end of last year before receiving a minor ankle clean out last week.
Pat Carrigan was an ironman for Queensland.Credit: NRL Photos
A Carrigan shift from his preferred position to alongside Haas – who the former confirmed was in no doubt for round one – would enable Corey Jensen to come off the bench, and provide an experienced head to work with emerging props Xavier Willison and Ben Te Kura when the starting duo were rotated.
It could also have repercussions for the State of Origin series, given the emergence of Dolphins lock Max Plath and the way Queensland were bullied through the middle in last year’s defeat without regular enforcers Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Tom Gilbert (both ACLs), and Thomas Flegler (shoulder).
However, Maroons legend Trevor Gillmeister did not believe it would change Carrigan’s style.
“Nothing will change too much for him, you just have to try and not overcomplicate things. It is a simple game, rugby league,” Gillmeister said at the reunion of the Maroons’ 1995 side in Brisbane.
“Pat Carrigan has got to be in the pack somewhere, you have got to get your best players on the field, whether it is club footy or Origin. Pat can play anywhere in the forwards.”
Carrigan agreed moving to prop full-time would not weaken his game, despite dropping from 170 running metres and 1.45 tackle breaks a game for Brisbane to 127 metres without a bust for Australia in 2024.
He said while his role may slightly change, he had worked with Broncos assistant coach Trent Barrett on “adding a couple of strings” to his bow.
“It’s obviously a different role in those [representative] teams, where you get to play with a lot of really outstanding players. But there are outstanding players here too, so no [it doesn’t restrict me],” Carrigan said.
“I’m not the most traditional forward as it is, I’m a little bit smaller and like to use a bit of skill. That’s something Baza’s encouraged me to do, he’s going to keep encouraging me to play my game and play what I see.
“Whatever number you wear is just a number, so I’m not too fazed.”
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