Captain Carrigan channels Parker to lock down new role

Pat Carrigan aims to follow in the illustrious footsteps of Broncos assistant coach Corey Parker when he starts at lock and captains the team against the Titans in Saturday night’s trial at Redcliffe.

Parker, also a former Broncos skipper, wore the No.13 jersey with distinction throughout his 347-game career and had a mortgage on the starting lock position for the final eight years of his career

Carrigan noted how there have been "a lot of great players" wear the No.13 jersey for Brisbane.

Terry Matterson, Tonie Carroll and more recently Parker have all put their distinct stamp on the role. Over time the lock position has evolved into more of a middle forward position but Parker added plenty of skill to go with the grit in his game as his own career unfolded.

It is the same evolution Carrigan is hoping to make as he develops the more creative facets of his game.

"Cozza had that 13 jersey [at the Broncos] for a long time, the Origin jersey and he played for Australia so myself and the other boys try and pick his brain a lot and I’ve really enjoyed understanding how he went about his business," Carrigan said.

"He was a skilful player so I am trying to change it up a bit and put a bit of his stuff into my game while keeping the stuff I do well.

"Last year was my first in grade and you tuck it under, get your job done and don’t want to make mistakes. I am excited this year about hopefully playing with a bit more skill. "

While coach Anthony Seibold has all but locked Carrigan in as the starting No.13 against the Cowboys in round one, the 22-year-old physiotherapy student is taking nothing for granted.

"I set myself a goal at the start of the year to lock down the 13 jersey and I have a bit to go in that regard," Carrigan said.

"There are a lot of good 13s in the comp so as much as it is nice so far ... there are a lot of things I’ve got to work on in my game like the short pass and combining well with Payno [Payne Haas], Tommy Flegler and the other middles."

Carrigan said it was "exciting and pretty cool" to captain the team on Saturday night before adding that he was expecting injured regular captain Alex Glenn to be right to play in round one against the Cowboys. If the responsibility did fall his way he said he would lead through his actions.

He was the captain of the First XV rugby union side at Gregory Terrace High, where he was also school captain, and is used to leadership roles.

"It is probably something you have to work on I guess. I try and do my job, be a good person and see what happens from there," he said.

"I have always liked the leadership side of things. It is pretty cool to get your peers to look up to you and want to play for you. The thing I tried to model my game on when I was younger was to be the player everyone else wants to play with."