‘Big Four’ spine: Broncos name playmaking dream team for first time

Marquee Brisbane recruit Ben Hunt is set to complete the club’s playmaking dream team for the first time. But his return has left another star fighting for his Broncos career. SEE THE FULL SQUADS

Hooker Cory Paix is fighting for his Broncos career amid Brisbane’s $4 million salary-cap crunch after being dropped to make way for Ben Hunt for Sunday’s derby against the Titans.

Coach Michael Maguire finally has his Broncos playmaking Dream Team after 19 rounds of waiting with Hunt (hamstring) cleared to play alongside Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds in a star-studded spine.

But the return of Hunt, who was named to start in the No.9 jumper after a nine-week layoff, has turned up the heat on Paix, who lost out to Billy Walters at hooker, Brisbane’s most hotly-contested position.

Ben Hunt will finally join Adam Reynolds, Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam on the field. Picture: NRL photos

Paix has had the edge on Walters this season. The Toowoomba terrier got the nod for round 1 and has started at hooker in 11 of Brisbane’s 16 games this season, but Maguire has made the agonising call to drop Paix out of the top 17 completely.

Paix, named in No.20, picked up a minor elbow injury in Brisbane’s defeat of the Bulldogs last week.

Walters’ stunning burst of form over the past month, including last week’s cameo to inspire Brisbane’s 22-18 Homebush ambush of the Bulldogs, has seen him survive, with Hunt to start at hooker at Cbus Super Stadium.

Broncos hitman Kobe Hetherington said Hunt’s return is another critical piece falling nicely into Brisbane’s premiership jigsaw plans.

“We have seen what he has done at Origin playing that hooker role so if he can bring that back here the boys will be cheering,” Hetherington said of Hunt, who trained well on Tuesday.

“It keeps everyone on their toes, too.

“Everyone knows how good a player he (Hunt) is. He is in the leadership group for a reason and brings that leadership and all us younger fellas get around him.

“He is such a good talker and is tough as well.”

Maguire always faced a tough selection conundrum either way and his decision to relegate Paix has major repercussions for his long-term future at Red Hill.

Hunt’s return means Cory Paix is fighting for his Broncos future. Picture: Getty Images

The 25-year-old remains unsigned and he is suddenly the most vulnerable given that Walters and Hunt are contracted for next season, while rising rake Blake Mozer last month signed a two-year extension.

Maguire has indicated he is interested in retaining the off-contract Paix but Brisbane have yet to table an offer at this stage as they battle salary-cap pressures.

Walters’ recent form has been simply irresistible, evoking images of the dummy-half dynamism that underpinned Brisbane’s charge to the 2023 grand final against Penrith.

“Billy is a competitor and it doesn’t matter where you put him,” Hetherington said.

“He has been doing a really good job off the bench.

“He is kicking 40-20s, scoring tries and he is snapping blokes in half.

“He’s really putting his hand up.”

In other selection news, Selwyn Cobbo has been relegated to 18th man duties, while Xavier Willison will start alongside Payne Haas at prop after his barnstorming Bulldogs display.

The Broncos are chasing a fifth consecutive win and victory over the last-placed Titans will keep them the top-four hunt.

Selwyn Cobbo has been dropped to 18th man after a mixed performance at fullback against the Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

Brisbane (9-7) are two wins adrift of the fourth-placed Warriors, who must overcome the loss of chief playmaker Luke Metcalf (ACL) to beat the Tigers at home on Sunday.

Hetherington said Brisbane’s stunning upset of the Bulldogs, fighting back from an 18-0 deficit, has ignited the Broncos’ premiership assault.

“That is one of the best wins I have been a part of in my career,” he said.

“’Madge’ (Maguire) said, ‘Stay in it and we will get them the back end of the half’.

“We all believed ... everyone stood up.”

Meanwhile, Brisbane’s hooking stocks have taken a hit with rising star Blake Mozer suffering a broken jaw in his bid to return to the NRL.

The Broncos are hopeful the injury is not season ending, with Mozer potentially facing six weeks on the sidelines.

The former Queensland under-19s captain left the field to undergo HIA testing in the 76th minute playing for Broncos feeder club Souths Logan in their 34-30 loss to the Brisbane Tigers last Sunday.

Mozer was later diagnosed with a broken jaw, capping a nightmare season for the promising rake, who faces not playing a single minute of NRL in 2025.

Blake Mozer suffered a broken jaw playing for Souths Logan. Picture: QRL

The Keebra Park product has played nine NRL games, including eight last season after his debut in 2023, and was hopeful of ramping up his development with more appearances in Broncos colours this year under coach Michael Maguire.

But Mozer suffered a shoulder problem in pre-season, which sidelined him for a month, and he has been rehabbing the injury throughout the year whilst playing through the pain barrier in the Hostplus Cup.

Broncos medicos initially discussed shoulder surgery but have been taking a wait-and-see approach to determine if Mozer can avoid going under the knife.

Once labelled Queensland’s most talented hooker since Cameron Smith, Brisbane have high hopes for Mozer and last month signed the off-contract 21-year-old to a new two-year extension until the end of 2027.

The Broncos hold Mozer in such high regard he was invited to train with Brisbane’s NRL squad as a 17-year-old four years ago, but since then, the 183cm rake’s development has been slower than expected.

Injuries haven’t helped, but Maguire is keeping faith in Mozer, who carved up as a junior with his vision and creative touches around the rucks that attracted comparisons to future NRL Immortal Smith.

SHARKS v DOLPHINS

Friday, 8:00pm, Accor Stadium

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Toby Rudolph 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Billy Burns 19. Hohepa Puru 20. Niwhai Puru 21.Michael Gabrael

22. Jayden Berrell

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Max Feagai 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jake Averillo 6. Sean O’Sullivan 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe

Interchange: 14. Aublix Tawha 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Ray Stone 17. Josh Kerr

Reserves: 18. Harrison Graham 19. Trai Fuller 20. Tevita Naufahu 21. LJ Nonu 22. Peter Hola

COWBOYS v BULLDOGS

Saturday, 7:35pm, Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Braidon Burns 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. Reuben Cotter 11. Jeremiah Nanai 13 Harrison Edwards

Interchange: 14. Karl Lawton 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Kai O’Donnell17. Coen Hess

Reserves: 18. BRyan Rivett 19. Temple Kalepo 20. Kaiden Lahrs 21. Dane Aukafolau 22. Murray Taulagi 23. Marly Bitugane 24. Jaxson Paulo

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Enari Tuala 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Sam Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Bailey Hayward

Interchange: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Josh Curran 17. Lachlan Galvin

Reserves: 19. Jake Turpin 29. Jaeman Salmon 21. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 22. Kurtis Morrin 23. Blake Wilson 24. Jethro Rinakama 25. Jack Todd

TITANS v BRONCOS

Sunday, 6:15pm, Cbus Super Stadium

Titans

1. AJ Brimson 2. Jaylan De Groot 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asumaleaui

Interchange: 14. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 15. Jaimin Jolliffe 16. David Fifita 17. Klese Haas

Reserves: 18. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 19. Arama Hau 20. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 21. Sean Mullany 22. Tom Weaver

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Xavier Willison 9. Ben Hunt 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

Interchange: 14. Billy Walters 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Jack Gosiewski 17. Tyson Smoothy

Reserves: 18. Selwyn Cobbo 19 Ben Talty 20. Cory Paix 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Delouise Hoeter

Originally published as ‘Big Four’ spine: Broncos name playmaking dream team for first time