Broncos star Pat Carrigan's wild ride into first NRL grand final
Brisbane Broncos lock and Queensland State of Origin hero Pat Carrigan will become the first UQ student or alum to play in an NRL grand final when his side lines up against defending premiers the Penrith Panthers on Sunday.
Brisbane last tasted premiership success in 2006, and Sunday will mark the Broncos’ first grand-final appearance since their heartbreaking golden-point loss to the Cowboys in 2015.
Carrigan has once again been a work horse for the Broncos this season, with the Bachelor of Physiotherapy student and 2019 UQ Blue recipient running for 3479 metres and making a total of 719 tackles in 22 appearances.
He also helped lead Queensland to back-to-back State of Origin series victories in 2022 and 2023, and was awarded player of the series in 2022.
To celebrate his first NRL grand-final appearance, Contact looks back on Carrigan’s most memorable games of 2023 in this special photo tribute.
Scroll through the images below and have your say on who will win this year’s grand final in our opinion poll.
Round 1: Broncos 13 defeat Penrith 12
Bluebet Stadium (Penrith), Friday 3 March
Carrigan makes 50 tackles and runs for 180 metres as the Broncos hold on in a nail-biter to open the 2023 NRL season.
Round 3: Broncos 40 defeat Dragons 18
Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane), Saturday 18 March
Carrigan runs for 180 metres and sets up a try for fullback Reece Walsh in the 73rd minute.
Round 8: Broncos 26 defeat Eels 16
TIO Stadium (Darwin), Friday 21 April
Carrigan leads the tackle count for the Broncos with 37 tackles as the Eels take their home game to Darwin.
Round 9: Rabbitohs 32 defeat Broncos 6
Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane), Friday 28 April
Carrigan leads the tackle count for the Broncos with 37 tackles and runs for 179 metres in a losing side.
Round 11: Storm 24 defeat Broncos 16
AAMI Park (Melbourne), Thursday 11 May
The Storm continue their dominance over the Broncos. Carrigan leads the tackle count for the match with 43 tackles, despite being sin binned in the 55th minute.
Round 12: Panthers 15 defeat Broncos 4
Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane), Thursday 18 May
Carrigan makes a whopping 67 tackles for the match in the Broncos' first back-to-back loss of the season.
Round 21: Broncos 36 defeat Rabbitohs 20
Sunshine Coast Stadium (Sunshine Coast), Friday 21 July
The Broncos exact revenge on the Rabbibohs after their round-9 loss. Carrigan plays the full 80 minutes after being rested in round 21, and lays on a try assist for Kotoni Staggs in the 61st minute.
Round 22: Broncos 32 defeat Roosters 10
The Gabba (Brisbane), Thursday 27 July
The Broncos move to The Gabba to make way for the Women's World Cup at Suncorp Stadium. Carrigan scores the first try of his career in the 34th minute after crashing over the line off an Adam Reynolds pass. He had played 78 NRL matches before scoring a try. He also makes 4 tackle breaks.
Round 23: Broncos 30 defeat Cowboys 14
Queensland Country Bank Stadium (Townsville), Saturday 5 August
After waiting 78 matches to score a try, Carrigan scores his second try in as many matches after Billy Walters lays on a short pass close to the line in the 23rd minute. He also runs for 164 metres, makes 2 line breaks and delivers one try assist.
Qualifying final: Broncos 26 defeat Storm 0
Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane), Friday 8 September
Broncos end their 14-game losing streak to the Storm in style. Carrigan runs for 193 metres – the most for the match – from 19 hit-ups.
Preliminary final: Broncos 42 defeat Warriors 12
Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane), Saturday 23 September
Carrigan makes 5 tackle breaks as the Broncos cruise past the Warriors and into their first NRL grand final since 2015.
Who will win the 2023 NRL grand final?
Vote in our opinion poll below.
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