In the representative arena, Pat Carrigan enjoyed a season to remember, claiming not only an Origin series victory with the Queensland Maroons, but also capping off the year with the Rugby League World Cup trophy as a member of the Kangaroos squad.
However, the 2022 Wally Lewis Medal winner as the State of Origin player of the series said he had unfinished business with the Broncos and wanted to help his side press on into the finals after he spent a “pretty tough” period on the sidelines to close the NRL season, missing four of the club’s last five games after being suspended for a hip drop tackle.
Overall last year, Carrigan only featured in 14 games for Brisbane after injury ruled him out in the early parts of their season as well.
“It was a good year last year and I think I’m kind of lucky to be honest how (I) finished the end of the year; (but I) just kind of want me to get back in the swing of things here at Broncos,” Carrigan told assembled media following Brisbane’s extended Monday morning training session.
“I’m eager to get back in and run out at Suncorp and we get to run out of the Gabba this year … (I’m) excited to put on a Broncos jersey again.
“When you think about it, 14 (games) doesn’t look like you did too much and tops off to the guys that get to the 300, I think I need to play 40 years at this rate (to reach that milestone).
“Obviously, I had a suspension and a little knee injury at the start of the year, but I think I need to be on the field as much as possible this year.
“I’ll take the ups and downs with it, but in terms of where we’re going as a club and building the connections within the group and the continuity, I think if I can be on the footy field as much as I can, that’s a real important one for us.”