NRL news: Broncos unearth another teen star as Blake Mozer joins top squad

A rising hooker is so highly regarded he is one of six Brisbane young guns to clinch a deal for next year’s NRL campaign.

The Broncos have unearthed another teenage star, handing a development contract for 17-year-old hooker Blake Mozer to join Brisbane’s top squad for their 2022 pre-season.

With first-choice hooker Jake Turpin on the comeback trail from injury, Mozer caught the eye at Broncos training on Friday with some dummy-half darts that demonstrated why he is considered a future No.9 at Red Hill.

Broncos football boss Ben Ikin is a huge fan of Mozer and the under-17s Queensland City hooker is so highly regarded he is one of six young guns to have clinched a development deal for next year’s NRL campaign.

Broncos young gun Blake Mozer. Pic: Katarina Prosser

Mozer is a product of Keebra Park, the Gold Coast school that produced Benji Marshall and David Fifita, and idolised Queensland Origin hooking legend Cameron Smith in his surge through Brisbane’s ranks.

His Keebra coach, Glen Campbell, urged the Broncos to hang onto Mozer for “grim death” and Brisbane heeded his advice, securing the promising hooker until the end of 2023.

At 183cm, Mozer is tall for a hooker and he showed some classy touches at training on Friday as the youngest Bronco on the field providing service for Brisbane’s big boppers such as Ryan James, who liked what he saw.

“He looks good,” James said of Mozer.

“The hardest thing about a dummy half is getting to know the hooker’s game.

“I ran him off the ball a few times out there and you have to get to know your hooker because they have one of the most important roles.”

Blake Mozer is turning heads with his play out of dummy half.

Brisbane have been hammered for losing a number of young guns in recent years, including Sam Walker and Reece Walsh, but the Broncos have big plans for Mozer, who is still eligible for the Mal Meninga Cup under-18s competition.

The intelligent hooker is likened in style to Canberra’s British Test star Josh Hodgson and Mozer said he couldn’t be happier with his footballing education at the Broncos.

“I have been at the Broncos since I was 13 and signed since I was 15,” Mozer told the Queensland Rugby League website recently.

“The Broncos have developed me brilliantly. I wouldn’t be here without the Broncos. Their development is awesome.

“Now that I am getting older, it is more about strength and the fitness component to get me ready for the next chapter after school.

“The Broncos obviously see something in me in my position and for me it is about working hard to get to play NRL one day.”

Mozer could make his NRL debut in 2022. Pic: Katarina Prosser

Mozer was chosen in an Australian Schoolboys merit team this year and Queensland scouts believe it is only a matter of time before he plays NRL for the Broncos.

“It is weird not being the stereotypical short and stocky dummy-half but I have used it to my advantage,” Mozer said.

“I got the opportunity to go to Melbourne and watch the Storm where I met Cameron Smith.

“He has obviously been my biggest inspiration. There aren’t many that have ever compared to him.

“I am still eligible for Mal Meninga Cup, so I will probably start there and try and work my way up to Queensland Cup.”