Brisbane Broncos lock, Pat Carrigan says he is committed to finishing his career as a one-club player, dismissing ongoing speculation surrounding his future beyond the expiration of his current deal at the end of 2028.
Addressing media commitments in Brisbane, the 28-year-old forward expressed surprise that his contract status dominated headlines, emphasizing his lifelong affiliation with the franchise that originally signed him as a teenager.
Carrigan pointed to his previous decision to turn down lucrative external offers earlier in his career as evidence of his loyalty to the organization.
“I grew up as a Broncos kid and I said it was the club I dreamed of playing for,” Carrigan said.
“I live my dream each and every day. I never come off contract with the club and if that to continue, great. If not, it not.
“One thing I know is I love this club and I love playing with these boys.”
Speculation regarding potential future opportunities tied to incoming NRL expansion franchises, including a prospective team in Papua New Guinea, has frequently linked high-profile players to heavy financial offers.
While acknowledging that expanded league revenues remain a notable factor across the competition, Carrigan maintained that his immediate focus rests entirely on his current commitments in Brisbane.
“I got two years left on my contract here. There are three other teams coming in and plenty of other players coming off contract. I locked up until 2028 and I here to win.”
When asked whether financial considerations ultimately drive his career planning, Carrigan rejected the notion.
“Not really, to be honest. I in a very privileged position to get paid pretty well for what I do, but if that all you are after, then your intentions are in the wrong place,” he said.
Beyond his playing commitments, Carrigan is widely regarded as the leading candidate to eventually succeed retiring captain Adam Reynolds in the leadership role. Having previously filled the captaincy vacancy during periods of injury absence over recent seasons, Carrigan acknowledged the discussion while deflecting personal praise.
“It special to be mentioned in those conversations, but that only a small part of what I do every day,” he said.
The immediate priority for Carrigan and the Brisbane squad involves an upcoming fixture against North Queensland in Townsville, where the club looks to sustain momentum in its pursuit of consecutive premiership titles.
“It about getting into that rhythm,” he said.
“You definitely take confidence from what we did last year, but there no point looking too far ahead because we got a really big challenge this week.”
Source: Australian Associated Press