Market Watch: Broncos hold talks with Cory Paix over contract extension, Francis Molo set to sign with Dolphins

12 months ago, Cory Paix was on the outer at the Broncos. Now after a gutsy fightback, the 25-year-old looks set to complete a remarkable Red Hill resurrection as the club moves to extend his future.

Reborn Cory Paix is set to complete a remarkable Red Hill resurrection with the Broncos hooker opening talks on a new deal ahead of Friday night’s blockbuster against the Cowboys.

This masthead can reveal the Broncos have held preliminary dialogue with Paix’s management on a contract extension as the revitalised No.9 prepares to start in the XXXX derby at Suncorp Stadium.

It caps a gutsy fightback by Paix, who was on the outer at the Broncos just 12 months ago under former coach Kevin Walters, who axed the Toowoomba terrier to the Hostplus Cup.

Just two months ago, Paix received a golden opportunity to join the Roosters to fill the Brandon Smith void, but the 25-year-old knocked back a move to Bondi in his quest to fight back at the Broncos.

The nuggety rake has done just that, edging out Billy Walters to win the No.9 jumper for the premiership opener against the very Roosters club that tried to poach him.

Having previously played in two XXXX derbies off the bench, Paix will start for the first time against the Cowboys against hooking rival Reece Robson, who will join the Roosters next season.

The Broncos have held talks with Cory Paix over a new deal. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Paix goes into the round 3 showdown off-contract at season’s end but Broncos coach Michael Maguire is a fan of his industry and hopes to secure the no-nonsense rake to a new deal.

The parties have yet to begin formal talks but Paix is keen to remain at Red Hill until at least the end of 2027, despite interest from England and at least two Sydney NRL rivals.

Paix’s manager Paul Hogan confirmed the former playmaker, who plays his 47th NRL game on Friday night, is a man in demand.

“Cory’s preference is to stay at the Broncos,” Hogan said.

Cory Paix has had a resurgence at the Broncos. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“He’s had interest from a number of clubs, including teams in Super League, but he would ideally love to stay on at the Broncos.

“There’s been several inquiries about Cory for the past 12 months and even this pre-season, he could have signed elsewhere, no doubt about that.

“But Cory is happily settled on and off the field in Brisbane and he never lost faith in his ability.

“He knew if he kept working hard, the wheel would turn and it has.

“The key is Cory can’t be complacent now. He has to keep working hard under ‘Madge’ (Maguire) and I’m sure he will.”

The fierce, five-way competition for hooking spots at the Broncos could ease over the next 12 to 24 months.

Tyson Smoothy, Walters’ deputy in the 2023 grand final, will join English club Wakefield from 2026, while Walters turns 32 next February is off-contract at the end of next season.

Young gun Blake Mozer remains off-contract, while marquee off-season signing Ben Hunt, another hooking option, will move to the halves on a full-time basis next year if halfback and skipper Adam Reynolds retires, as expected, at season’s end.

Paix was outstanding in Brisbane’s 50-14 season-opening rout of the Roosters and while he made just one run against the Raiders, he topped the tackle count with 40 with not a single miss.

Cory Paix. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Paix’s current two-year deal is worth around $600,000 and Maguire is keen to reward the former Wynnum Manly outcast with a new contract.

“‘Paixy’ has been great,” Maguire said.

“I like his attitude and the way he goes about things.

“I like his style of play and all the hookers are pushing each other, which has brought the best out in Paixy.”

Paix, who was converted into a hooker by former Broncos coach Anthony Seibold, is keen to stay at Brisbane for the long haul.

“It’s been a clean start for everyone,” he said.

“Madge grabbed all the hookers together as a group in pre-season and said, ‘Look I don’t know who I am going to go with. It’s going to come down to you guys. Whoever wants it, put your hands up’.

“Madge is demanding hard work and that suits my style.

“The easy option would have been for me to leave, but being stubborn, I’ve dug my heels in and given it a red-hot crack.”

MOLO SET FOR QUEENSLAND RETURN

-Michael Carayannis

Francis Molo will return to Queensland with the former St George Illawarra prop agreeing to a two year deal to join the Dolphins.

Molo will join the Dolphins until the end of next year on an immediate contract after being released from his St George Illawarra deal following a messy split.

He was free to join another club after being granted a release from St George Illawarra.

Molo had spoken with a host of Sydney-based clubs but wanted to return to Queensland having already played for the Broncos and North Queensland.

Molo is a handy addition for the struggling Dolphins and could make his club debut in their local derby clash against Brisbane next weekend.

Molo will be required to pay back a six figure sum in order to execute the release at St George Illawarra after agitating to get out of the club for the past two months. The Dragons had forward paid Molo part of his contract as part of an agreed advancement. That money must be paid back. The star forward, who signed a two-year contract extension with the Dragons just last April, has been in a contract standoff with the club for the past two months.

Francis Molo is set to return to Queensland.

Molo will add depth to the Dolphins’ forward pack who are still without Tom Flegler for an indefinite period while back-rower Connelly Lemuelu is due back in round six from a fractured eye socket.

He has not trained with the club since early February, when the club granted him sick leave.

However, the situation escalated recently when the Dragons decided against continuing to pay the former State of Origin prop in recent weeks after his sick leave entitlements ran out. The 30-year-old joined the Dragons in 2022 after stints with North Queensland and the Broncos.

The Dragons secured a replacement for Molo by signing former Wests Tigers prop David Klemmer on a deal to immediately join the Red-V, which came after they released winger Mikaele Ravalawa to South Sydney for this season. But the winger is due to return to the Dragons for the 2026 season.

The Dragons also signed ex-Raiders prop Emre Guler in the middle of the contract dramas with Molo.

The Dragons also have some promising young middle forwards coming through, including Loko Junior Pasifika Tonga, Jacob Halangahu and Finau Latu. Halangahu inked a contract extension last week keeping him a the Dragons until at least the end of 2027.

Originally published as Market Watch: Broncos hold talks with Cory Paix over contract extension, Francis Molo set to sign with Dolphins