Corey Parker hopes playing with Brisbane’s talented forward pack at this week’s NRL Nines will help him unlock their collective might as a coach later this year.
The Broncos premiership forward will come out of retirement at 37 to join a side in Perth that features players born about the time he made his NRL debut 19 years ago.
Now an assistant coach, Parker is noticeably slimmer than his playing days and, optimistic he can keep up, is relishing the chance to hone a young playing group in a unique way after they were again dealt an early finals exit last season.
“It gives you another appreciation for these athletes,” Parker said of his Nines cameo.
“Individually, it’s fair to say that we have some pretty talented guys in that forward pack.
“Matt Lodge, Payne Haas, David Fifita, Tevita (Pangai), Joe Ofahengaue, (Thomas) Flegler, (Patrick) Carrigan; these guys individually are very good.
“But collectively as a group, we identified we can be a lot better.
“I’ve really enjoyed that role this pre-season.”
Flegler, Haas and Fifita will feature alongside Parker in Perth, with the late scratching of new captain Alex Glenn opening the door for an extended run for Parker.
Like Glenn, winger Xavier Coates has also been withdrawn after experiencing leg tightness, with Kotoni Staggs and Brendan Piakura added as replacements.
Darius Boyd is among a host of top-line Broncos set to play a trial in Rockhampton on Saturday.
Parker backed the dethroned captain to perform in the centres if that’s where he falls in coach Anthony Seibold’s backline plans this season.
“He’s played centre for Queensland and he didn’t do a bad job there; he was a pretty fair player,” Parker said of Boyd.
“We’ve got four games, four opportunities for 35 guys to stake their claim for round one and then we’ll see what happens from there.”
Brisbane’s Nines squad: Jamayne Isaako, Herbie Farnworth, Izaia Perese, Jesse Arthars, Kotoni Staggs, Anthony Milford, Brodie Croft, Thomas Flegler, Jake Turpin, Payne Haas, David Fifita, Ethan Bullemor, Tom Dearden, Cory Paix, Tesi Niu, Ilikena Vudogo, Corey Parker. Coach: Kurt Richards
