Origin star Oates battles for his Broncos future
COREY Oates is fighting to save his career at the Broncos with the former Queensland Origin star relegated to Brisbane’s second-string Renegades in the fierce battle for NRL premiership spots.
Oates is on the selection outer at Red Hill just three weeks out from Brisbane’s season-opener against the Rabbitohs on March 11 at Suncorp Stadium.
The 27-year-old has been one of Brisbane’s premier backline strike weapons, having scored 98 tries from 170 games since his NRL debut in 2013, including many spectacular four-pointers diving for the corner on the left wing.
But Oates, off-contract at season’s end, has fallen down Brisbane’s wing pecking order during the most critical phase of his career.
The veteran of eight Origin matches ran with Brisbane’s reserve-grade squad at training on Friday. Dragons off-season recruit Jordan Pereira was a surprise choice on the right wing with Brisbane’s top squad, while young gun Selwyn Cobbo occupied the left flank Oates has largely made his own for eight years.
The sight of a Cobbo-pereira wing alliance left Oates on the outside looking in and facing stiff competition in a position that also features Broncos veteran David Mead, Dolphins-bound Jamayne Isaako and ex-storm utility back Brenko Lee.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters has not totally closed the door on Oates, who has had stints with the top squad in pre-season, but he must produce red-hot form in the trials to start against the Rabbitohs at Suncorp.
Brisbane football boss Ben Ikin lauded Oates’ attitude as he fights to win a new deal.
“‘Oatesy’ knows there is competition for spots and he is relishing it,” Ikin said.