Corey Oates

Corey Oates worked as an apprentice electrician when he joined the Brisbane Broncos from the Baralaba Panthers in Central Queensland in 2012.

Former Queensland State of Origin hooker, Jason Hetherington was a Baralaba product, and represented Queensland Primary Schools from the tiny town.

Oates also had ambitions of playing in the forwards, and represented Queensland under 20s, as an interchange player in 2012, and then as a second rower, in 2013.

He made his NRL debut in 2013, off the bench against the Melbourne Storm.

Oates finished his rookie season with eight tries in nine games. After several stints off the bench, and in the backrow, Oates was selected on the wing for the Broncos and has remained there ever since, establishing himself as one of the NRL's top wingers.

Going into the 2022 season, he had played 170 matches for Brisbane, scoring 98 tries, including four against Manly at Suncorp Stadium on September 2, 2018.

He also scored a try in the Broncos' 17-16 loss to North Queensland in the 2015 NRL grand final.

He’s built for Origin.

Kevin Walters FOG #63

In 2016, Oates was selected in the QAS Emerging Origin Squad and on June 1, made his Origin debut on the wing for the Maroons. He has played a total of eight matches for the Maroons, including all three in the 2016 series win.

In his debut game, he more than held his own, and despite brutal attention from the Blues' defenders, managed to run 135 metres and bust two tackles, while taking the high ball with ease. One of his great strengths is his ability to make big gains, with his runs from dummy half, given he has the speed of a winger as well as the size of a forward.