NRL Market Watch: Blake Mozer wants to stay at Brisbane Broncos despite being stuck behind first choice hooker Billy Walters
Rising Brisbane Broncos hooker Blake Mozer has made a call on his future as a queue of rival clubs begin to line up for his signature ahead of his November free agency.
Rising Broncos star Blake Mozer insists he won’t quit the club despite being stuck behind Billy Walters in Brisbane’s hooker ranks.
Mozer has been a rare shining light for the Broncos during the club’s recent plight, injecting much-needed spark from the bench.
The crafty No. 9 has long held huge raps after being compared to Queensland legend Cameron Smith as a junior.
He has had to bide his time for a crack at the NRL, playing one game last year and featuring in Brisbane’s Magic Round win against Manly before dropping out of the top team again.
Mozer’s return to the NRL against the Dragons a fortnight ago nearly sparked a remarkable comeback win and he was impressive again in last weekend’s dreadful loss to the Bulldogs.
The former Queensland under-19s Origin representative is starting to show the type of touch that had him earmarked to be Brisbane’s long-term dummy-half.
But how long he has to wait to don the Broncos’ No. 9 jersey remains to be seen.
Mozer, 20, is contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2025 and becomes a free agent from November 1 this year unless Brisbane’s recruitment department can extend him prior.
But Mozer, who signed with the Broncos as a 13-year-old, insists he has no desire to leave Red Hill despite a queue of rival clubs lining up for his signature.
“One hundred per cent,” he said when asked if he would remain with the Broncos.
“I love this place. I love the players and all the coaching staff.
“It has been the best seven years and hopefully it can go for longer.
“I’ll do whatever it takes. Whether we start winning games, it doesn’t matter. As long as I am playing, I am happy.
“Eventually you want to push for (starting) spots. When that time comes, I will, but for now I am happy.”
Mozer is still in the infancy of his career and he will make his fifth NRL appearance against the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.
A Gold Coast product himself, Mozer will confront housemate and Titans prop Keenan Palasia in the high stakes M1 derby, which Brisbane must win to keep their finals hopes alive.
Having made the most of his return to the NRL, Mozer admitted he was frustrated playing in the Hostplus Cup but remained patient in the hope of being elevated.
“At times (it was frustrating). I won’t lie to you, I wished I was out there more earlier in the season,” he said.
“It wasn’t like it was unfair. I knew what I was waiting for and they (coaches) were speaking to me. They weren’t keeping me in the dark, they were letting me know.
“I knew it was coming and I was just being patient. I was playing good footy in Cup and when it came I grabbed it with two hands.
“Patience is a virtue, man. I was eager to be out there so I just had to bide my time.
“It has all paid off so hopefully I can repay the club for giving me a position.”
At 183cm, Mozer is one of the taller hookers in the NRL but has developed a bullet pass from dummy half and an ability to get the Broncos moving forward.
He laughs when the comparisons to Smith are mentioned, however the greatest NRL player is still inspiring his career.
“It is hard getting compared to the greatest player of all time in my opinion,” Mozer said.
“I made a comment when I was 15 (about wanting to be like Smith) and it stuck with me since.
“I just go with the flow. I am my own player at the end of the day. He is Cameron Smith. I am Blake Mozer.
“I will keep looking up to him and looking at his clips. Hopefully I get to properly meet him one day. I have met him once but I was only young.
“I just play my own footy and whatever it represents, it does. I just go out there every week and try my best. That is all I can do.
“I had a massive growth spurt. I was more average size when I was younger and then I got taller.
“You don’t have to be a short hooker. Cameron Smith (185cm) was a bit taller, around that six-foot height.
“Besides lower back pain bending over, it is fine.”
After unseating grand final bench hooker Tyson Smoothy, Mozer has made a noticeable impact when entering the field.
He will only improve with more game time in the NRL and is hoping the Broncos can snap out of a worrying form lull and finish in the top eight.
“As all bench players I am probably an impact player at the moment. I try to bring spark,” he said.
“I feel like I have got a lot of spark in my game already so coming on fresh when the boys are fatigued is part of my strength that I can bring.
“I will only get better at that, getting more confidence and being in the team more.
“It’s awesome to be in the team and hopefully we can still make that run for the finals.”
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