Dumped Broncos hooker Cory Paix fighting to save career after Cowboys blow

Dumped Broncos hooker Cory Paix is fighting to save his NRL career after talks over a possible move to arch-rivals the Cowboys have collapsed.

Dumped Broncos hooker Cory Paix is fighting to save his NRL career after talks over a possible move to arch-rivals the Cowboys have collapsed.

Paix is in limbo at Red Hill after the rugged rake was omitted from the top 17 for Sunday’s derby against the Titans - despite starting at hooker in last week’s epic 22-18 defeat of the Bulldogs.

The Toowoomba terrier wasn’t helped by an injury setback in the opening minutes of the Bulldogs clash, with scans revealing Paix bravely soldiered on with damaged ligaments in his elbow.

But Ben Hunt’s return from a hamstring injury this Sunday has complicated the battle for the No.9 jumper as coach Michael Maguire confronts the headache of fitting three quality hookers into two spots.

With Paix less than 100 per cent fit, Maguire has opted to start Hunt at hooker in the M1 derby, with the in-form Billy Walters retained in the No.14 super sub role at Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium.

The off-contract Paix is the only hooker left at the Broncos without a deal for next season, a scenario that opened the door for a poaching raid from Brisbane’s 2015 grand-final nemesis the Cowboys.

This masthead can reveal Paix held a series of meetings with the Cowboys, starting during Magic Round in round 9 in Brisbane as North Queensland ramped-up their search to replace Roosters-bound Reece Robson.

The Toowoomba terrier later flew to Townsville for a tour of the Cowboys’ facilities and more advanced discussions with North Queensland coach Todd Payten and football boss Micheal Luck.

But the Cowboys ultimately opted to sign Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney, scuppering any hope of Paix heading north and leaving him in a fierce four-way fight at Red Hill with dummy-half colleagues Hunt, Walters and Blake Mozer.

Cowboys football chief Luck confirmed the club met with Paix and said the Broncos hooker was a serious target before they settled on Mahoney.

“While we signed Reed, we genuinely had interest in Cory,” Luck said.

“We spoke to him in Brisbane and then he came up and had a look around.

“We had discussions about the merits of signing Cory.

“He was great during the whole process.

“We talked to him a couple of times.

“I thought Cory presented really well and he was a top bloke.

“What appealed to us with Cory was his attitude. He is from Toowoomba, so he understands what regional towns are like and the importance of our club to the local community in Townsville.

“As an ex-halfback he has a kicking game as well.

“In the overall scheme of things, we opted to go for Reed because we thought he would best balance the talent in our halves and we prioritised elite service off the ground from dummy-half.

“Cory Paix would have fitted in well here, there’s a number of things he does well, so we wish him well at the Broncos.”

Paix has been Brisbane’s starting hooker in 11 of 16 matches this year, fighting back superbly under Maguire after not playing a single minute of NRL last season under former coach Kevin Walters.

While the Broncos have yet to table an offer for Paix, Maguire insists the club has not shut the door on the 25-year-old.

“It’s not an easy call to make with the hookers but it was helped in some way because ‘Paixy’ has a bit of an elbow problem,” Maguire said.

“Paixy is on the extended bench but he won’t play this weekend.

“He won’t be running around for any team (including the Queensland Cup).

“I have a lot of time for Paixy. He has been good on the field but off it as well.

“He is my type of player and I really admire his work ethic.

“We’re trying to shift the expectations of this organisation and Paixy has been a big part of that.

“Paixy has done a wonderful job and over the next few weeks we get to test our best combinations.

“It’s up to each individual to be at their best.”