Queensland Origin star Corey Oates believes Broncos can break 11-year premiership drought in 2017

COREY Oates has put NRL rivals on notice, claiming the Broncos have the blend of youth and experience to break the club’s 11-year title drought.

Corey Oates wearing Brisbane’s 2017 jersey. Picture: Tara Croser.

QUEENSLAND Origin winger Corey Oates has put NRL rivals on notice, claiming the Broncos have the blend of youth and experience to break the club’s 11-year title drought.

The Broncos will ramp-up their pre-season when they roll out a galaxy of big guns at the NRL Nines tournament at Auckland’s Eden Park.

Brisbane have named six players with Test or Origin experience headlined by Oates, Darius Boyd, Adam Blair, Jordan Kahu, Matt Gillett and off-season recruit Benji Marshall.

Another two top-liners, speed machine James Roberts and attacking wizard Anthony Milford, possess the skill set to terrorise rivals and lead the Broncos to Nines glory.

Corey Oates wearing Brisbane’s 2017 jersey. Picture: Tara Croser.

But Oates says the Broncos have their eyes on a bigger prize — the NRL premiership that has eluded Queensland’s flagship club since their epic title win in 2006.

Brisbane, who crashed out in the second week of the finals last year, are mired in the longest title drought in their 29-year history.

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Oates is off-contract at season’s end but insists he is reluctant to walk out on the Broncos with a seventh premiership on the horizon.

“I believe this is a team to win the comp,” he said.

“Some people (when deciding their future) look for money and some look for what team you can win a comp with.

“You always look at all options but my preference is to stay here. I’ve been around so long and built relationships with the boys.

“It comes down to what is best for you at the time, but we are working through that now and hopefully we can come up with a new deal soon.”

Oates expects Jimmy the Jet to light up the Nines. Picture: Peter Wallis

Oates was a last-minute scratching at last year’s Nines and is looking forward to utilising his monster frame closer to the ruck.

“I haven’t played a single second of Nines,” he said. “I went over (to Auckland) last year and got injured while I was there.

“It looks tougher than what people think. It’s only nine minutes but it’s full on. It will be a shock to me but hopefully I’m a Nines specialist.”

Broncos assistant coach Jason Demetriou will take charge of the squad and believes Roberts could light up the tournament after burying his recent off-field ordeal.

“We are serious about getting over there and competing,” he said.

“Benji, Darius and Milford are three players we are fortunate to have in our side and James Roberts has been outstanding in pre-season.

“Jimmy is an outstanding athlete. He got himself in the media for things that he’d like not to be in there for. But he can put that behind him now and a good Nines tournament will put that further behind.”