Undaunted by the queue for spots, hooker Cory Paix is convinced he's the type of NRL player Michael Maguire is looking for at Brisbane.
The 24-year-old didn't feature for the Broncos last season, Kevin Walters preferring son Billy, Tyson Smoothy and Blake Mozer at dummy-half as the side missed finals for a third time in four seasons.
Those four remain at the club but the coach does not, Walters replaced by Maguire in a shake-up Paix says prompted some introspection at last week's pre-season training camp.
"It was a great opportunity to get together and really have a dig," Paix said on Monday of their police-style boot camp.
"There's some stuff in there we'd probably like to keep in-house, but it's about finding our identity.
"Some testing times in there; you find out a bit about yourself, which is good for people to find where they were at."
Paix played 44 games across four seasons at Brisbane, including a career-high 15 in 2023.
But, on the outer in 2024, Paix dominated as an 80-minute hooker for Wynnum Manly and was named the Queensland Cup's player of the year in his position.
Off-contract after this season, he could have taken an NRL opportunity elsewhere.
But, known for his terrific training standards, the Toowoomba native has relished Maguire's arrival at Red Hill.
"It is a good feeling, and the easy option would have been to leave," Paix said of Maguire wanting him to stick around.
"As stubborn as I am, I like to dig my heels in and give it a red hot crack.
"Working hard's in my nature; I've been brought up that way.
"He's put it down to whoever wants to work the hardest (will earn a shot) ... so I'll keep chipping away."
The Broncos will play Gold Coast in a pre-season trial in Paix's home town of Toowoomba on February 16, a clash he admits bears weight for those vying for the No.9.
"Most people would think we don't get along at all ... we have a really good connection, among all 20 of us or however many are here," he quipped.
"I'll just be myself; I can't be who they are.
"It is a clean start for everyone, isn't it?
"Get in, work hard and it suits my style. If we can all adapt to that, it sets us up for a good season."
