Brisbane Broncos extend the contract of boom teenager
The Brisbane Broncos have extended the contract of a boom rookie who is the best prospect in his position in 15 years.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Brisbane Broncos have extended the contract of a boom rookie who is the best prospect in his position in 15 years.
Blake Mozer, 18, who played Meninga Cup under 18s this season for the Broncos’ feeder club Souths Logan, has extended an upgraded contract until the end of 2025.
Mozer is the best dummy half prospect at the club since Andrew McCullough (2008) first played for the club. Prior to that Greg Conescu and Kerrod Walters wore the hooking jersey at the start of the club’s existence in 1988.
Conescu was a former Queensland and Australian hooker who provided a great injection of experience before a young Kerrod Walters swept in to play 181 matches (1988-96) across first nine seasons of the club’s history.
RELATED LINKS
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN THE LANGER, DOLHPINS CUP
NRL RECRUITMENT SHOCK: WHERE THE SCHOOLBOYS ARE HEADING
McCullough was a remarkable stalwart who played 260 games for the club, joining them from Dalby.
Mozer is the best junior prospect since McCullough 15 years ago, who was the best since Kerrod Walters started at the club.
He is a Keebra Park SHS former school captain who has been in the Broncos system since lower secondary schooling.
Twice a member of News Corp’s Langer Trophy team of the Year, the 2021 Australian schoolboy selection is coming off a bumper start to the season when he was named man of the match in Souths Logan’s Meninga Cup victory in May.
Mozer’s coach at Souths Logan, Karmichael Hunt, said of him after last month’s match: “Looking at today’s performance Kevvie (Broncos coach Kevin Walters) has added him to his full time squad for a good reason.
“He reads the game as good as some of the best minds in the game, is bold and courageous and takes the game on when he needs to.
“I am looking forward to seeing how he goes in the years to come.’’
In the grand final Mozer set up the first two tries, gave a long dummy half pass for the third and scored a 20m individual try.
Mozer is also tall for a hooker and can hit and stick hard in defence.
He is a ball playing dummy half who can speed up or slow down a game, and run six different variations across a set of six tackles.
RELATED LINKS
DOLPHINS SIGN ORIGIN 18s FORWARD
MENINGA CUP TEAM OF THE SEASON
NRL GREAT COACHING IN THE LANGER TROPHY
But he is quick, as evidenced by his numerous individual runs this season.
Mozer is also a delightful, respectful young man well suited to the Kevin Walters off-field ethos.
He is also a character. While both teams were waiting for the Meninga Cup grand final to resume, Mozer stood on the 40m line, smiling and jiving his head and shoulders around, enjoying the music being played just before the resumption of play.
His antics made an opponent burst into laughter and broke the tension of grand final day.
Mozer is also a well grounded kid who ran straight to his family and friends to embrace them when the fulltime siren sounded in the Meninga Cup grand final.
His extension continues Brisbane Broncos’ shrewd selection of outstanding Queensland schoolboy and teen talent, with the likes of Deine Mariner, Karl Oloapu, Ben Te Kura, Kaiden Lahrs, Israel Leota, Devonte Vaivela and Tyreece Tait, Timothy Sielaff-Burns, Xavier Willison and Lykhan King-Togia just a few of outstanding young players making their way through the system.
GPS First XI Round 1: Nudgee given the Hook, IGS v Terrace thriller
GPS First XI cricket sensation: A BBC student who recently trained at Scotland’s Celtic FC, the Terrace rugby halfback ace and a BSHS bowling rookie were round one heroes. Reports here.
Hall eager to be back in the pool for cherished cause
Australian flag bearer and five time Paralympian Brenden Hall has reflected on his whirlwind Paris games as he uncovers his new found motivation for life in the pool.