By Nick Wright
Cory Paix has spent the past 18 months in NRL exile, fighting for his future at the Brisbane Broncos after falling out of favour during Kevin Walters’ reign.
But the 24-year-old is hoping the arrival of new coach Michael Maguire provides a “clean page” in his quest to save his career.
Paix inked a new two-year deal to remain at Red Hill early in 2023, going on to play 15 games in their grand final charge before being informed he was free to move given the wealth of hookers on the club’s books.
Cory Paix has hopes of an NRL return.Credit: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Incumbent dummy-half Billy Walters, the emerging Blake Mozer and Tyson Smoothy were all favoured ahead of Paix, while developing talent Cameron Bukowski has also been touted as having NRL potential.
Marquee recruit Ben Hunt is also expected to shift to hooker upon five-eighth Ezra Mam’s return from a nine-game suspension.
But Paix appears determined to earn a contract extension, after being informed by Maguire he had every chance of rejoining the NRL fold.
“I suppose the easy option would have been to leave, but as stubborn as I am I like to dig my heels in and give it a red-hot crack. Working hard is in my nature, I’ve been brought up that way, and it’s a clean page for me,” Paix said.
“No one’s guaranteed a spot here, and I feel like he’s put it down to whoever wants to work the hardest and displays all the qualities he wants.
“That’s our game plan here at the Broncos now, we want to be a hard-working side … I just have to be myself.”
Paix’s fate could rest in the long-term future of Walters, with Mozer in line to at last get the opportunity to announce himself as the club’s No.9 for the next decade.
But Paix believed his Hooker of the Year campaign with Wynnum Manly, as well as insights from Broncos assistant coach and former Queensland Maroons hooker Matt Ballin, has him well placed for the club’s opening round clash with the Roosters.
“He [Ballin] will tell you he wasn’t an attacking player, he was more of the hard-working defensive player, so [he’s giving me] little cues around what he did back in the day and what he’s able to provide me now,” Paix said.
“It had been a while since I did play an 80-minute game, and starting the year off I needed to play 80 minutes there at Wynnum. I built on that 80-minute performance game in, game out.
“I’ve always been a believer in if the coach wants you to do something, you just go out and do it, no matter how much it hurts or whatever the stakes are.
“It’s easy for people to whinge, go back and kick stones, but that’s not my nature to do that. I just wanted to knuckle down and work hard.”