Bronco pain Aussie gain

BRISBANE’S pain has turned into Australia’s gain, with Patrick Carrigan determined to win the World Cup following his frustrating end to the NRL season.

Carrigan copped a fourgame ban for a hip-drop tackle in Round 20 and watched from the sideline as the Broncos inexplicably fell out of the top eight.

The star lock returned for the final game of the regular season when a loss to the Dragons completed Brisbane’s shocking tumble to ninth, despite sitting fourth after Round 19. It marked a bitter end to Carrigan’s best season yet, winning the Wally Lewis Medal as Origin’s player of the series before earning a Kangaroos call-up.

The 24-year-old, who played in Australia’s semi-final win over New Zealand on Saturday, is channelling his club frustrations into World Cup glory.

“It was tough the situation with the Broncs and missing eight added a bit of fuel to the fire,” Carrigan said.

“I wanted to be a part of this Kangaroos group, and I knew that they could do something pretty special and yeah, I just pinch myself that I’m here.

“Relationships through footy are the things I love and I already feel like I’ve got lots of mates for life here now and if we win a World Cup together, it’d be pretty special.”

Carrigan believes the Broncos’ horror end to the season will prove a “blessing in disguise” and backed his club to next year play finals for the first time since 2019.

“We’re obviously building something at the Broncs and we ran into a few hurdles at the back end of the year,” he said.

“But I think it’s going to be a blessing in disguise for us. It’s made us put the microscope over a few more things and learn what we’ve got to be better at if we’re going to challenge teams like Penrith and Melbourne.

“The boys are back at preseason and I’m not missing running around Red Hill at the moment but I think we’re going to be in for a good year – it’s gonna be exciting.”

Carrigan won’t return to preseason training until January and said he’s keen on rekindling with high-profile recruit Reece Walsh.

“It will be a bit of a different preseason for me … I want to keep working on combinations with guys like Reyno and young Reece Walsh who has come back which will be exciting,” Carrigan said.

“As a club we’re conscious that we’re building but also mindful that we want to win football games and want to have success next year.”