Not often does a departing player leave such a hole in a side like Corey Parker has to the Broncos. The club captain and international starter retires after 347 NRL games, 8 games short of former teammate Darren Lockyer’s record for most NRL games with 355.
His retirement leaves a massive absence in Brisbane’s starting side, and young lock Jai Arrow has his eyes firmly on the spot.
Arrow first featured in the Bronco’s Holden Cup team in late 2012 at the age of 17, a staggering feat as he played against 20-year-olds despite only being in Year 11 at high school. His form in the Under 20s saw him earn a spot in the Australian Schoolboys squad at the end of 2012, the first junior representative honour for Arrow since joining the Bronco’s system, but it wouldn’t be the last. As Arrow went on to feature for Brisbane’s Holden Cup team between late 2012 and the end of 2015, he would earn Junior Kangaroo and Queensland Under 20s jerseys, ending his Holden Cup career at the end of 2015 by being named at lock in the competition’s Team of the Year.
Nearly four years after his first game in the Holden Cup, Arrow earned his NRL debut in 2016, coming off the bench against Manly. Arrow featured in a dozen games for Brisbane in 2016, including both of the Bronco’s finals matches, as well as scoring his maiden NRL try against Melbourne. But with club legend Corey Parker firmly in the Bronco’s number thirteen jersey, Arrow was forced to play from the bench in 10 of his 12 matches, only starting in his preferred position of lock once.
While Brisbane possess a wealth of quality edge backrowers in the form of Matt Gillett, Alex Glenn, Sam Thaiday and Tevita Pangai Junior, they’re lacking players for the middle third following Parker’s retirement. Arrow appears to be in a one-on-one battle with international prop Josh McGuire for the position, with a move from the front-row to lock opening the door for McGuire to play more minutes for the club.
Arrow will have his opportunity to press for a starting spot in the pre-season with the Auckland Nines and the World Club Challenge in February, before Brisbane begin their 2017 campaign against the Cronulla Sharks at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Thursday the 2nd of March.