NRL 2025: The axing of Brisbane coach Kevin Walters at the Broncos saw Raiders firebrand Corey Horsburgh remain in Canberra
The sliding doors moment of Kevin Walters’ Broncos axing has put Raiders firebrand Corey Horsburgh on a collision course with Maroons star and good mate Pat Carrigan.
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The sliding doors moment of Kevin Walters’ Broncos axing has put Raiders firebrand Corey Horsburgh on a collision course with Maroons star Pat Carrigan.
Horsburgh will confront the Broncos for the first time on Saturday night in Canberra since going within a whisker of moving to Brisbane.
Overweight, injured, unhappy and out-of-favour with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart last year, Horsburgh toured Brisbane’s Red Hill headquarters as he weighed up a return to Queensland.
The one-game Maroons representative met with Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy, recruitment chief Simon Scanlan and Walters after being given permission by Canberra to weigh up his future.
A move to the Broncos seemed certain until Walters was punted just weeks after Brisbane crashed to a 12th-placed finish following their 2023 grand final campaign.
Walters took with him Brisbane’s interest in Horsburgh, leaving the 27-year-old to patch up his relationship with Stuart and relaunch his career.
“It all blew up when Kevvie left,” said Horsburgh’s manager, Jeff Jurotte.
“The Raiders gave us permission to talk. Corey came up to the Broncos and checked the club out. We met with Simon, Kevvie and Dave Donaghy. They were trying to find some salary cap space.
“There was interest from a few clubs and their words to me was ‘we are very keen on having him here, but we have to move some players and create some space in the cap’.
“Corey was certainly keen to come to the Broncos. If he wasn’t going to stay at Canberra, he was always coming back to Queensland. We had interest from the Dragons and Tigers but he didn’t want to live in Sydney.
“In the end, it’s turned out for the best. Corey had some struggles last year but he is settled again and he is looking in the best shape of his career.
“It has turned out to be a blessing in disguise really, he has turned things around in Canberra and he is looking forward to going head to head with Patty (Carrigan) this week.
“They are great mates. They played in the Queensland under-20s together, the only team that’s beaten NSW, and playing with Pat was a real attraction for Corey to come home, so it’s mate versus mate this week.”
After only making five appearances for the Raiders last year, Horsburgh burst out of the gates in Canberra’s 30-8 trouncing of the Warriors in Las Vegas.
He made 15 carries for 109m in his best NRL performance since he was picked to debut for Queensland in 2023.
Horsburgh has shed 5kg and overcome chronic osteitis pubis in his groin, paving the way for a return to his best form in 2025.
Despite hailing from the north side of Brisbane, Horsburgh was ultimately glad a move to the Broncos collapsed and is loving life in the nation’s capital.
“It broke down with all the coaching stuff that happened,” he said.
“I’m lucky in a way because I didn’t really want to leave Canberra anyway.
“There were some circumstances and I thought I had to.
“We (Stuart and I) mended it at the back end of last year when I decided to stay. We spoke about what I needed to do and it’s been way better building the relationship back up with him.
“It all fell through and I’m still here with my family, dogs and am building a nice house. It’s nice how it all unfolded in the end.”
Horsburgh debuted for Queensland in Game Three of the 2023 series, which the Maroons lost as they chased a 3-nil whitewash.
It’s an arena he wants to experience again after last year’s disappointing season.
“My goal is to get back to Origin,” he said.
“I want to lock down a starting position with the Raiders and let my footy do the talking.
“Hopefully I’m lucky enough to pull on a Maroons jersey again.”
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Originally published as NRL 2025: The axing of Brisbane coach Kevin Walters at the Broncos saw Raiders firebrand Corey Horsburgh remain in Canberra
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