MANY NRL players are never the same after undergoing a knee reconstruction.
Queensland Origin hopeful Pat Carrigan is determined to be the exception to the rule.
Named in Queensland’s extended squad for the Covid-affected series in 2020, Carrigan was eyeing an Origin breakthrough last season when his dreams were shattered – the Broncos lock snapping his ACL against the Cowboys in May, just a month out from the Maroons’ 2021 campaign.
For the past nine months, Carrigan has not only rebuilt his reconstructed knee, but explored ways to reinvent himself as a player, adding extra tools in his quest to take the next step from NRL performer to State of Origin campaigner.
Just turned 24, Carrigan has enjoyed a drama-free 2022 pre-season and is hoping to use it as a springboard for the dual purpose of firing for the Broncos and winning a maiden Queensland jumper.
“I well and truly want to play Origin this year,” Carrigan said.
“My first goal this year is to repay the Broncos’ fans and the boys for missing so much time last year, but I definitely have a goal to play State of Origin this season for Queensland.
“I have played in the Queensland under-20s, and I was part of the extended squad with Wayne (Bennett, former Maroons coach) in 2020.
“I learnt so much just being around quality players from other clubs in that Origin series and my goal is to come back bigger and better from my knee reconstructions.
“I know Queensland have a lot of good players, but I’d love to take the next step and pull on that Maroons jersey one day.”
A key ally for Carrigan in his comeback from knee surgery has been FOG NO.166 Darius Boyd, the Maroons’ greatest try-scoring winger with 17 four-pointers from 28 Origin appearances.
Boyd snapped his achilles in a freak training mishap at the Broncos in December 2014, but the Maroons ace fought his way back to play in the 2015 NRL grand final and enjoyed a further three campaigns for Queensland.
At his peak in 2016, Boyd became Queensland and Australia’s No.1 fullback.
That has given Carrigan comfort he can return a better player and mentally stronger for his setback.
“Darius has been good for me,” said Carrigan, the former Queensland under-20s skipper.
“He had a good chat with me about what he went through with his achilles. He said ‘just set yourself the goal of coming back a better player than before the injury’, and that’s a motivation for me.
“Darius fought back from his achilles injury, so hopefully I can showcase my ability this year.
“I think I’ve handled it well mentally. At the time I did my knee, I stayed in the (Covid) bubble and tried to help the Broncos guys prepare for games the best way I could.
“At the time, I felt it was hard and doing rehab every day was tough.

“But the time off allowed me to work on parts of my game, see some things on tapes and put myself in a good position to get through the pre-season and be ready for the year ahead.
“I see myself as a 13, and you look at the quality locks in the NRL today, like Isaah Yeo and Cameron Murray, they have good relationships with their halfbacks and can use the ball. So that’s what I want to do with (Broncos halfback recruit) Adam Reynolds.
“I am adding things to my game. I’m working on passing, and whether I’m starting at 13 or playing in the middle with Payne Haas (Broncos and NSW prop), I want to have a good set of skills.”
Carrigan is also facing competition from within at the Broncos from hard-running Kobe Hetherington, a fellow Queenslander and the son of FOG No.106, tough-as-nails former Maroons hooker Jason.
“I’m a little bit bigger this year,” Carrigan said.
“A lot of people are saying I’m heaps bigger, but the scales aren’t showing that.

“I weigh 105kg at the moment. I prefer being a bit lighter to some forwards, who are 113kg-plus. I think it helps me get around the park a bit better.
“I’m probably the fittest and quickest I have been across the board in the data the club has. I’ve used the nine months off to reinvent myself and add some things to my game.
“There’s a lot of competition for spots at the Broncos. Kobe is going great. He got an opportunity last year and he took it with both hands. But I feel that competition will bring out the best in me.”