Blake Mozer re-signs with Brisbane Broncos on two-year deal

The battle for the Broncos No.9 jersey continues to intensify, after staving off poaching bids to retain the signature of a Queensland under-19s star. See the latest transfer news.

Boom Broncos hooker Blake Mozer has signed a new two-year deal as the battle for the Brisbane No.9 jumper intensifies.

This masthead can reveal the Broncos have staved off poaching bids for the Queensland under-19s sensation, who has agreed terms on a two-year extension ahead of Friday night’s Battle of Brisbane.

Mozer will remain at the Broncos until the end of 2027 and his retention turns up the heat on off-contract hooker Cory Paix and 2023 grand-final rake Billy Walters in a three-way fight for the No.9 jumper.

Blake Mozer playing for the Broncos against the Storm in Rd27, 2023. Picture: NRL Photos

The Broncos have also kicked off preliminary talks with Paix, who has started the Michael Maguire era in superb form and is Brisbane’s No.1 hooker heading into the round 4 Dolphins derby at Suncorp Stadium.

Rated one of Queensland’s finest young hookers since Cameron Smith, Mozer was off-contract at season’s end and had attracted interest from at least three NRL rivals.

Mozer was linked to the Titans given he is a graduate of Gold Coast’s Keebra Park High, but the 20-year-old instructed his management his preference was to strike a deal with the Broncos.

A number of NRL suitors were keen to advance negotiations with Mozer, but the Broncos moved swiftly to take the former Queensland under-19s rake off the open market and continue his development at Red Hill.

Such is his talent, Mozer first began training with Brisbane’s NRL squad as a 17-year-old and is highly rated by the Broncos’ senior leadership group.

The Broncos have also kicked off preliminary contract talks with Cory Paix. Picture: Getty Images

Mozer was hoping to start the 2025 premiership in Brisbane’s top 17, but a shoulder injury in pre-season ruled him out of calculations and opened the door for Paix to share hooking duties with Walters.

But Brisbane chiefs have high hopes for Mozer and believe the former Mal Meninga Cup star can enjoy a long NRL career in Broncos colours.

Tall for a hooker at 183cm, Mozer made his NRL debut in the final round of 2023 against Melbourne before playing a further eight games last season, impressing with his vision and crisp passing out of dummy half.

It is understood Mozer ultimately requires surgery on his shoulder, but Broncos medicos have rehabilitated the injury to the stage where the hooker is nearing NRL consideration.

Mozer has been named on an extended bench for feeder club Souths Logan’s Hostplus Cup clash against Sunshine Coast on Sunday at Davies Park.

Mozer is set to make his return from a shoulder injury in Queensland Cup, but will eventually require surgery. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mozer has played 34 Hostplus Cup games for the Magpies and steered their Mal Meninga Cup side to glory in 2022 with a man-of-the-match performance in their grand-final win over Townsville.

Aiding Mozer’s hopes of eventually claiming the Broncos’ No.9 jumper, 2023 grand-final utility Tyson Smoothy will leave Brisbane at season’s end to take up a three-year deal with Wakefield.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire told this masthead last month he had big plans for the crafty Mozer.

“Blake is great to coach,” he said.

“He is diligent about wanting to learn the game, that’s something there that your hookers have to have.

“On both sides of the ball, you have to be high end because you are steering the ship, you are touching the ball first and you have to put your body on the line.

“’Moey’ has been doing that throughout the pre-season, he will be back this year and we’ll get his shoulder to where it has to be.”

DOLPHINS CONFIRM FRANCIS MOLO SIGNING

—Peter Badel and Michael Carayannis

The Dolphins have bolstered their forward stocks amid the Tom Flegler injury saga by signing former Queensland Origin enforcer Frank Molo.

As Flegler fights to play again with nerve damage in his shoulder, the Dolphins have picked up the remaining term of Molo’s contract after the 2021 Queensland front-rower was granted a release by the Dragons.

The Molo drama with the Dragons is officially over with the parties sorting out a financial hurdle to pave the way for his move to the Dolphins.

The 30-year-old is expected to arrive at Redcliffe training next week, with his deal confirmed until the end of the 2026 season.

Molo will be available for next week’s derby against the Titans but is likely to start in the Hostplus Cup to build some match fitness.

After starting his football at Aspley Devils, Molo went on to play junior representative football with Dolphins feeder club Norths Devils.

Francis Molo has left the Dragons to join the Dolphins. Picture: NRL Photos

Dolphins head coach Kristian Woolf said a front-rower with 138 games of NRL experience is a handy early-season pick-up for the club amid uncertainty over Flegler’s planned return.

“We are very pleased that Frank will be joining the Dolphins,” said Woolf.

“This is really an opportunity that has just fallen into our laps, but we are very glad that it has.

“Frank is a player that I know as I have worked with him before, and he will bring some power and impact to our squad.

“This move will work for both parties and I know he and his young family will be very happy to get back to Queensland.”

A Queensland under-16s and under-18s representative, Molo made his NRL debut for the Broncos in 2014, a year in which he also represented the Maroons’ under-20s team.

In 2017 he moved to Queensland Cup club the Townsville Blackhawks under the tutelage of Woolf, where he resumed his NRL career with the North Queensland Cowboys in 2018.

In 2022 he joined the Dragons, playing 62 matches, but his stint at the Red V ended controversially after a fallout with a member of the coaching staff over a Mad Monday incident.

Originally published as Blake Mozer re-signs with Brisbane Broncos on two-year deal