Parker set to play on

[Super Freak]

BRISBANE will broker a two-year deal for Corey Parker in a move that will see the Broncos skipper smash NRL playing records and represent Queensland until 2018.

The Sunday Mail can reveal Parker’s management is in the final stages of talks on a contract that will see Parker become the first player in the code’s 108-year history to play 360-plus NRL games.

There were fears salary-cap pressures could force Brisbane’s skipper into early retirement but the Broncos are planning to announce Parker’s retention after Origin II on Wednesday week.

Just turned 34, Parker was only expected to be handed a 12-month extension following 15 years of service that has left the ironman forward with a degenerative knee condition.

But Parker is adamant he can survive in the NRL beyond his 36th birthday. The Broncos are willing to agree to a two-year arrangement, with the extended term bolstered by a series of third-party deals to keep him at Red Hill.

Without third-party assistance, Parker faced the prospect of signing a one-year term under the salary cap.

Parker’s new deal will also ensure he remains an integral part of Queensland’s Origin juggernaut alongside Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston.

The Broncos skipper joined Brad Fittler in equal fourth on the NRL’s all-time list with his 336th NRL game on Thursday against Canberra and is adamant he can soldier on in 2018.

“The body is fine,” Parker said.

“The thing that drives me is the younger blokes here at the Broncos and the enthusiasm I get from them.

“Honestly, I’m enjoying my football now as much as I ever have. There’s a lot of reasons for that. There are young guys here like Anthony Milford, he has a massive future and I feed off the energy of guys like him.

“I constantly want to show them I am in the battle with them and that’s what keeps me motivated.”

Broncos legend Darren Lockyer is the most-capped player in history with 355 games, but Parker is on track to overtake his former colleague early next season.

If he maintains his seasonal average of 22 games, Parker will retire with an estimated 393 NRL matches - a phenomenal tally that may never be beaten.

Having previously negotiated his own deals, Parker has hired leading agent Isaac Moses to broker the final contract of his career.

Broncos teammates have privately urged the club to do everything possible to keep Parker on deck and the inspirational forward confirmed a deal is imminent.

“It won’t be long now before we sort it out,” he said.

“It great to hear your teammates wanting you to play on. I’d like to think I’ve helped some young guys here learn the Broncos culture, I get great satisfaction out of lending a hand and showing some wisdom.”

Emerging prop Jarrod Wallace said the Broncos could not afford to lose a captain who retains links from Brisbane’s last premiership win in 2006.

“Cozza has come through the era of Shane Webcke and Andrew Gee (Broncos front-row legends) and he is just so professional,” he said.

“He is always pushing us younger guys to be better. The club is very fortunate to have him as a leader.”

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[Unbreakable]

Can't see the likes of Arrow biding his time for another 30 months, guess we're going to sacrifice long-term plans for a chance at a title over the next 2.5 seasons. This probably also increases the likelihood of Inglis coming, we may as well go all in on guys who probably only have 1-2 good seasons left in them.

 

[Dash]

Two more years? If anyone can play at the top level for that long it's Parker, but that seems like one year too long.

 

[Kimlo]

He hasn't declined at all, he's still one our best week in week out. We'll see how he goes next year before we can say if 2018 is really a year too long.

 

[Wolfie]

As much as i love CP, i dont know what to think about this. I think it spells the end of Arrow personally, which i'm not happy about. Hopefully he keeps playing like he has been and doesn't start playing like a has been.

 

[Huge]

Actually, I don't see Arrow being a casualty as Parker's deal is heavily dependent on tpa's. There should be money for Arrow and there's going to be juggling room in the forwards. Playing here is the ticket to stardom, going elsewhere is rarely a good thing as I'm sure he would have been advised.

 

[Super Freak]

It's not really a case of money for Arrow.

It's whether he wants to wait another 2 years to get a spot in the side without waiting for the Origin period or hoping there are injuries.

 

[Unbreakable]

Yeah if Parker re-signs for 2 seasons I'd say Arrow is as good as gone to the Sharks (Who are rumoured to be moving on Lewis & Heighington, and Gallen probably only has 1 season left, so there's room in their rotation for him)

I'd be worried about losing TPJ as well, but we've got him locked up until 2018 luckily.

 

[Big Pete]

Would it be the end of the world if we lost Arrow?

Stop me if you've read this before: he's a hard-working backrow who gets through plenty of work. They're fairly common players, worth every penny but not difficult to acquire. Furthmore, it's a role that calls for an experienced head, somebody who realises the biggest plays occur during the 60th and 70th minute where both sides are exhausted and one big run through the middle can make all the difference. Not only does that type of play require aerobic fitness, it requires strength, ingenuity and game-sense. As a collective, players that acquire these attributes until their mid-20s at which point they begin to make a name for themselves and represent their state and country. By the time Jai Arrow reaches his mid-20s it will be 2020 and our minds will be on the next Olympic Games.

The backrow is not a position of need for the Brisbane Broncos. They already have two of the best backrow prospects coming through the grades in Tevita Pangai Jr and Jaydn Su'A. Two guys that have been blessed with more than just a good work-ethic, these two have serious potential to be superstars of the next generation. In comparison, the Broncos are beginning to look skinny in other positions. The backline in particular could do with more bodies and if rumours are true, the Broncos are about to sign one of the greatest backs to ever play the game in what could be one of the greatest final chapters in Rugby League history.

Arrow is a good kid that has a lot of footy infront of him, but will he promise you greatness?

 

[big k]

I'm with Pete here. While I would like to keep arrow I think an eventual backrow of Oates, Su'a and TPJ looks far better than TPJ, Su'a and Arrow.

 

[talanoa]

It's not really a case of money for Arrow.

It's whether he wants to wait another 2 years to get a spot in the side without waiting for the Origin period or hoping there are injuries.

it probably wont all be about money but he is now 21 and if parker hangs on for 2 years arrow will be 24. he would have played limited games off the bench if any at all. that impacts his career and earnings potential big time. he has to look elsewhere for an opportunity, otherwise he will bust his hump for average $ in cup for norths devils. thats not real enticing.

 

[Morkel]

Is he versatile enough to play on an edge? From what I hear he had limited footwork but can he run good lines? Gillett is really the only one I would set in stone ATM, Glenn does not have the impact in attack or venom in defence, and Thaiday is erratic. Alternatively Parker can play at prop and Blair & Wallace can be our bench props so we remain solid AF for 80 minutes.

 

[Alec]

We could always have Parker play in the front row, and have this Arrow guy at lock if he becomes good enough. Just dump Thaiday.

 

[talanoa]

Is he versatile enough to play on an edge? From what I hear he had limited footwork but can he run good lines? Gillett is really the only one I would set in stone ATM, Glenn does not have the impact in attack or venom in defence, and Thaiday is erratic. Alternatively Parker can play at prop and Blair & Wallace can be our bench props so we remain solid AF for 80 minutes.

unfortunately he isnt versatile for the edge, he is pretty straight up and down plus we will have oates,sua,gillett in the back row mix and glenn is also still poking along. i think if pangai can get his aerobic fitness up to scratch he will play middle with parker, mcguire, wallace etc.

 

[Nashy]

Can't see the likes of Arrow biding his time for another 30 months, guess we're going to sacrifice long-term plans for a chance at a title over the next 2.5 seasons. This probably also increases the likelihood of Inglis coming, we may as well go all in on guys who probably only have 1-2 good seasons left in them.

If people on this forum had their way when it came to juniors, we would have no senior players. I'll take Parker over this Arrow bloke any day of the week.

 

[Wolfie]

If people on this forum had their way when it came to juniors, we would have no senior players. I'll take Parker over this Arrow bloke any day of the week.

Couldn't agree more, but at the same time we need to keep our best young players interested in staying here.

 

[Unbreakable]

If people on this forum had their way when it came to juniors, we would have no senior players. I'll take Parker over this Arrow bloke any day of the week.

I understand what you're saying, just don't complain when Bennett retires in a few years along with Boyd, Parker, Thaiday and Inglis(?) and all of our promising juniors have left the club already because we decided to keep all of our veterans past their used by date to increase our chances at winning a premiership short term.

I mean we've already lost Taylor because we didn't want to set back our premiership plan by a couple of extra seasons while he developed fully and inevitably surpassed Hunt, now we're going to lose the best lock coming through in Queensland (possibly Australia) to squeeze out an extra 24 months from Parker, and don't tell me that Arrow is some mystery that may not eventuate in the NRL, he's about as close to a sure thing as you can get in this day and age.

My problem is, where does it end? Is the next step to re-sign Glenn for 3 more years because he's experienced and won't let you down? Will probably lose Su'a and co. if that happens.

 

[Nashy]

I understand what you're saying, just don't complain when Bennett retires in a few years along with Boyd, Parker, Thaiday and Inglis(?) and all of our promising juniors have left the club already because we decided to keep all of our veterans past their used by date to increase our chances at winning a premiership short term.

I mean we've already lost Taylor because we didn't want to set back our premiership plan by a couple of extra seasons while he developed fully and inevitably surpassed Hunt, now we're going to lose the best lock coming through in Queensland (possibly Australia) to squeeze out an extra 24 months from Parker, and don't tell me that Arrow is some mystery that may not eventuate in the NRL, he's about as close to a sure thing as you can get in this day and age.

My problem is, where does it end? Is the next step to re-sign Glenn for 3 more years because he's experienced and won't let you down? Will probably lose Su'a and co. if that happens.

Granville is about the only player at the moment that I think this site can claim to be right about. Taylor is in his first season, so we can't use him, Arrow is a nobody, Su'a too, Parcell isn't setting the world on fire, though I'm sure someone will tell me it's because of the team he can't lift, Nikorima, same thing.

To say past their use by date would indicate that Parker is past it, which he's not. So we can't run with that either.