It comes after Paix previously expressed a desire to become a Bronco for life.
Cory Paix’s dreams of being a Broncos player for life appear to be over unless the hooker is willing to take a substantial paycut to remain in Brisbane. The salary cap squeeze at the club has already seen Selywn Cobbo forced to leave and Paix could be the next to be pushed out, following reports the Broncos are on the verge of extending his teammates Kobe Hetherington and Corey Jensen on new multi-year deals.
Michael Maguire’s men have recently locked down captain Adam Reynolds, centre Kotoni Staggs and emerging hooker Blake Mozer after the trio signed contract extensions. And the club also has a large chunk of its cap tied up in big-money deals for superstars Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan, Ezra Mam and veteran Ben Hunt.
The situation has already seen Cobbo agree to join the Dolphins next year after the Broncos were only able to offer the former Maroons star a $300,000 deal, despite the fact he’s on double that this season. And Paix looks like being the next player squeezed out of the club due to salary cap constraints, unless he’s willing to take a $150,000 paycut.
Paix – who has impressed as Brisbane’s starting No.9 for large parts of this season – is currently on a deal worth around $300,000 per year. But The Courier Mail reports that the hooker would have to accept a 50% paycut to remain at Red Hill beyond this season, with the Gold Coast Titans emerging as a potential landing spot for the Brisbane junior. The extension for Paix would only represent a fraction more than the NRL’s minimum wage of around $130,000, leaving his exit almost inevitable
The 25-year-old started the season as Brisbane’s first-choice No.9 and has been largely used as Brisbane’s starting hooker over Billy Walters, who is contracted until the end of next season. Hunt’s return from injury has also complicated the hooker situation, with Paix dropped from Brisbane’s 17-man squad last round to rest an elbow complaint and the veteran handed the No.9 jersey.
Ben Hunt hopes Cory Paix stays at Broncos amid cap squeeze
However, Hunt says he hopes the Broncos and his ‘well-loved’ teammate can come to an agreement to extend his time at the club, after hailing Paix’s contributions this season. “Cory has been excellent for us this year,” Hunt told The Courier Mail.
“He’s just a little bull terrier. He just rips into his work. He’s fit as all hell and he knows the game well. I actually do feel for him a bit (being in limbo). ‘Paixy’ is a really good clubman, too. He’s well-loved around the place and just a great contributor to the club.”
Paix was reportedly close to agreeing an extension at the club earlier this year and Maguire indicated that he wanted the hooker to stay. However, those negotiations were put on the backburners as Brisbane prioritised other deals, even though the 25-year-old Brisbane junior made it clear he didn’t want to leave a club that “means the world” to him.
Speaking about his future at the end of May, Paix accepted the harsh truth that he may have no option but to leave the club. “I would love to be a Bronco for life but sometimes in life you don’t always get what you want,” the 25-year-old said at the time. “I need to go out and play some good footy first before I get a contract.”
