Cowboys eye Cory Paix as Broncos face $4 million salary cap strangle

The Broncos are facing a $4 million salary cap juggle that has put a starting playmaker on the radar of Queensland rivals the Cowboys.

Brisbane is facing a derby poaching raid from the Cowboys for hooker Cory Paix as a $4 million salary cap strangle threatens to burst the Broncos.

Paix wants to “be a Bronco for life” but is on the radar of North Queensland following NSW Origin No. 9 Reece Robson’s decision to join the Roosters next year.

With 14 players, worth about a combined $4 million, coming off-contract at Red Hill this season, the Broncos are battling to manage their bulging roster and are yet to publicly announce a single re-signing this year.

The shock decision of captain Adam Reynolds to play-on in 2026, and Brisbane’s desire to accommodate the halfback, has further complicated what was already a delicate salary cap juggling act.

Reynolds, Kotoni Staggs, Selwyn Cobbo, Blake Mozer, Corey Jensen, Kobe Hetherington and Fletcher Baker are among the players without announced contracts beyond 2025.

Off-contract Broncos hooker Cory Paix has interest from the Cowboys. Picture: Getty Images

The off-season recruitment of Ben Hunt from the Dragons on a two-year deal ending in 2026, on the presumption Reynolds would retire, added pressure to Brisbane’s roster.

Internally, Broncos management is confident the club can navigate the salary cap puzzle and retain the players they desire to keep.

But nearing the halfway point of the season, the club is yet to make formal offers to the likes of Paix and Cobbo, who is also courting interest from rivals.

Having spent the past month on the bench behind Billy Walters, Paix will return to the starting dummy-half role against Manly on Saturday night as the Broncos look to snap a three-game losing streak.

He has no desire to leave Brisbane, but is yet to receive clarity on his future from the cash-strapped Broncos.

“I need to go out and play some good footy first before I get a contract,” Paix said.

“I came here straight out of school and even during school I was part of the junior academy.

“It (Broncos) means the world. I have got my family close by and obviously the Broncos have spent a lot of time on me developing me into the person and player I am.

“I did a lot of milestones here in my personal life. Brissie is home to me.

“I would love to be a Bronco for life but sometimes in life you don’t always get what you want.”

Off-contract Selwyn Cobbo is yet to receive an offer from the Broncos. Picture: Getty Images

The Cowboys are keeping an eye on Paix and Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney as they prepare for life without Robson.

After failing to play an NRL game in 2024 under former coach Kevin Walters, Paix was handed Brisbane’s No. 9 jersey at the start of the season by new coach Michael Maguire.

But he was relegated to the bench in round 7.

With Maguire desperate to snap a lull, Paix will return to the starting side at 4 Pines Park and hopes to ramp up his bid for a new deal.

“I am super excited,” Paix said.

“My job doesn’t change too much. I’ve just got to go out and play hard and put in a good performance.

“I spoke with ‘Madge’ (Maguire) and worked on a few things in key areas he thought I could get better at. I thought I went away and did that. Now it is time for me to step up.

“We haven’t been getting the results lately. We’ve just got to turn up and work hard. Madge is driving those standards.”

Captain Adam Reynolds’ decision to play-on in 2026 has put pressure on the Broncos. Picture: Getty Images

Paix’s manager Paul Hogan met with the Broncos earlier this week for preliminary talks and said the Toowoomba terrier has interest from NRL clubs.

“We’re keeping our options open,” he said.

“Cory would like to stay at the Broncos but it depends on what happens.

“The Broncos are keen to keep him. We’ll see what transpires over the next few weeks, but Cory is focused on playing good football and if he does that, his future will sort itself out.

“He has fought back really well and is enjoying being coached by Madge.”

Originally published as Cowboys eye Cory Paix as Broncos face $4 million salary cap strangle