NRL news: Deine Mariner hungry to keep Broncos starting wing spot

After edging former Origin star Corey Oates to a Brisbane wing spot, young gun Deine Mariner is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to stay there.

Deine Mariner is fitter and stronger in 2024 and hungry to hold on to a starting wing spot. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Broncos speed demon Deine Mariner has vowed to keep his spot in the top grade after undergoing a pre-season bulk-up regime to cope with the rigours of the NRL.

The 20-year-old made history by becoming the Broncos’ first ever tryscorer in Las Vegas last week, with his performance vindicating coach Kevin Walters’ decision to choose Mariner on the wing ahead of Corey Oates.

But with Oates desperate to fight his way back into the top squad, Mariner and Jesse Arthars are mindful they cannot be complacent in the three-way battle for two wing spots this season.

Mariner, Brisbane’s fastest player over 40 metres, is leaving no stone unturned.

The Auckland-born flyer has added 3kg of muscle to his already ripped physique and, crucially, says the extra weight has not eroded the scorching acceleration that helped Mariner win the race to a Reece Walsh grubber kick in Vegas.

“This pre-season, the coaches really focused on putting some weight on for me,” Mariner said.

“The No. 1 goal in pre-season was getting a bit bigger and I needed to work on fitness as well.

“Last year I was around 91kg, but against the Rooster (in round 1 in Vegas) I was 94kg, so I’ve put on some size.

‘Heavyweight’ Deine Mariner hasn’t lost his speed. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“The best thing is I’ve kept my speed. I did a lot of speed work in pre-season while I was bulking up to make sure I didn’t lose that speed off the mark.

“After 12 weeks of hard work to get bigger in the gym, I am pretty pleased that I have kept my speed.”

The Broncos are banking on Mariner being one of the breakout stars of the 2024 campaign.

Touted as the best schoolboys centre in the country three years ago, Mariner has served a patient apprenticeship, playing just two games in his rookie NRL year in 2022 before adding four more matches last season.

But with strike centre Herbie Farnworth defecting to the Dolphins this season, Mariner has a golden opportunity to become a fixture in Brisbane’s three-quarter line.

Coach Walters raised eyebrows by controversially backing Mariner over Oates for round 1, but the gamble on youth over experience paid dividends.

The former Australian Schoolboys ace was among Brisbane’s better players at Allegiant Stadium and is determined to stave off Oates for a wing spot after six tries from his first seven NRL games.

“It’s a big year for myself,” Mariner said.

Deine Mariner scores Brisbane’s first try of the 2024 season in Las Vegas. Picture: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

“My first goal is to maintain a spot in the starting 17 week in, week out.

“There’s a lot of competition for spots here. I love the club and what they have done for me, so that’s my goal for the year, just to be really consistent with my football.

“When Kevvie let me know I was playing (in round 1) I just wanted to repay the faith he had in me and put my best foot forward.

“At the end of the day, I knew there were positions up for grabs and every week I have to keep building on that.

“I have to do my best to keep building and do what I can to stay in the team.

“I don’t want to lose my spot.”

Walters praised Mariner’s first-up effort in the historic American double header.

“Deine was really good for us,” he said. “He scored a nice try and defensively he made some good decisions as well.”

While content to cut his teeth on the flanks, Mariner is regarded as a better centre and eventually hopes to move infield.

“Yeah, that’s how centres usually come into the NRL,” he said.

“They start off on the wing, learn the fundamentals of that, and then once they are more experienced, they move infield.

“We’ve seen that with Selwyn Cobbo here. He was a winger and now he is playing centre, so I think I just have to do the same thing and bide my time.

“For now, I’m happy on the wing.”