Brisbane legend Corey Parker isn’t convinced hooker Cory Paix is playing with enough aggression heading into Sunday’s NRL grand final—however a former Broncos number nine disagrees.
Discussing the role of Paix with Andrew McCulloch on SENQ, Parker was adamant the 25-year-old needed to be far more expansive out of dummy half for the Broncos to beat a Melbourne Storm side led by the ever-scheming Harry Grant.
“He (Paix) has been stubborn and stoic in the way he wants to play,” Parker said of Paix’s rollercoaster 2025 season.
“He was shown the door, then got a lifeline from ‘Madge’ Maguire and now he’s found his spot as the starting number nine in a grand final.”
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‘Does he ask enough questions?’
“But for me he doesn’t ask enough questions with ball in hand, he had no runs out of dummy half last week, and very few if any the week before,” Parker continued.
“Is that the way he needs to play, just let the other boys do it?”
‘You can’t change it now’ says McCulloch
Andrew McCulloch, who spent the majority of his 260 NRL games for Brisbane at hooker, wasn’t as concerned about Paix continuing to play a more conservative role for Michael Maguire.
“There are enough playmakers and enough generals out there to get the job done,” McCulloch said.
“For me, let’s not complicate it and make him try and do something he hasn’t done all year, you can’t change it now when it comes to the start of October when the biggest game (of the season) is on the line to be able to get out of dummy half, he just needs good service to the right spots and good defensive movements.”
“If he wants to elevate his game he can do it in the offseason, it’s probably not the time to do that now.”