Broncos Round 1 team: Billy Walters demoted from starting side, backrow bolter wins race

The Michael Maguire era has officially begun at the Broncos, with the Brisbane coach naming an unheralded trio to take on the Roosters in Round 1. SEE THE FULL TEAM.

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Broncos coach Michael Maguire has ushered in a new era by relegating Billy Walters and backing comeback kids Cory Paix, Jack Gosiewski and Gehamat Shibasaki for Brisbane’s premiership opener on Thursday night.

Brisbane’s big guns have been cleared for take-off with Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan, Payne Haas, Adam Reynolds and marquee recruit Ben Hunt to lead the Broncos’ 2025 title assault in round 1 against the Roosters.

But Maguire has put his stamp on the Broncos by also rewarding hard work, with unheralded trio Paix, Gosiewski and Shibasaki coming from the clouds to start at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.

Paix has edged out incumbent rake Walters for the No.9 jumper, Gosiewski will start in the back row alongside Jordan Riki and Shibasaki has won a stunning call-up after arriving in pre-season on a train-and-trial deal.

Grand-final hooker Walters has been retained on interchange in the no.14 jumper as Maguire made a selection statement that he is prepared to pick lower-profile squad members who work hard.

Maguire’s first Broncos team is sweet reward for Brisbane’s forgotten man Paix, who will end a 553-day NRL exile when he runs out to face the Roosters.

The 25-year-old fell out of favour under former coach Kevin Walters, didn’t play a single NRL game last year as he languished in the Hostplus Cup and was even given permission to negotiate with other rivals.

But Paix, refusing to give up hope, has had a sensational pre-season and impressed Maguire with his performances in the trials, including a two-try haul in a 50-12 rout of the Titans a fortnight ago.

SEE THE FULL NRL ROUND 1 TEAM LISTS, SUPERCOACH ANALYSIS HERE

Maguire lauded the application of Paix as he staved off Walters, Tyson Smoothy (18th man) and Blake Mozer (injured) in a four-way battle for the No.9 jumper.

“All the hookers have been great in the pre-season,” Maguire said.

“I can only name one or two in a 17-man squad and my message to the group is if they push each other, they will all get better.

“’Paixy’ has done a great job. I like his attitude, the way he goes about things and he has a style of play that I like.”

Toowoomba terrier Paix had interest from Sydney clubs but said the arrival of Maguire over summer triggered hope of a Red Hill revival to play NRL at the Broncos.

“He (Maguire) grabbed all the hookers together as a group 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’,” Paix said.

“It was a clean slate for everyone, not just the hookers. It was all on us to have a big pre-season.

“The easy option for me would have been to leave but I decided to stay and press towards that No.9 jersey.

“I always believed I could play some footy so I just kept persisting.”

Paix’s fairytale fightback is matched by Shibasaki, the Cowboys and Souths discard who will start at left centre in his second coming at the Broncos at age 26 after being blooded by Wayne Bennett at Brisbane in 2018.

Cory Paix has impressed Michael Maguire. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Meanwhile, utility Gosiewski has forced boom back-rower Brendan Piakura to the bench - less than a year after he was thrown a lifeline by the Broncos following his departure from the Cowboys.

Maguire has a long history with five-club journeyman Gosiewski, having handed him his NRL debut at the Rabbitohs in 2016.

In other selection news, Kobe Hetherington will start at lock with Carrigan moving to prop to partner superstar front-rower Haas, who has been cleared of an ankle injury.

Speed machine Deine Mariner will replace the injured Kotoni Staggs at centre, forming a lethal right-side partnership with Selwyn Cobbo, who will start on the wing.

Piakura and Walters will be joined on the bench by Corey Jensen and Xavier Willison, who staved off in-form 205cm monster prop Ben Te Kura.

Originally published as Broncos Round 1 team: Billy Walters demoted from starting side, backrow bolter wins race