Brisbane have re-signed representative prop Pat Carrigan until the end of 2028, virtually wrapping him up for the rest of his NRL career.
The 25-year-old was already signed until the end of 2024 and the Broncos have secured an extra four years despite significant interest from other NRL clubs.
It couldn't come at a better time for the Broncos after they recently lost centre Herbie Farnworth and prop Thomas Flegler to new rivals the Dolphins from 2024.
The club also showed interest in former Broncos back-rower David Fifita who re-signed with the Titans this week.
Regarded as a future captain of the club, Carrigan has taken his game to new heights. Last year he was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal as the player of the series in Queensland's State of Origin series win, and he played a key role for Australia in the successful World Cup defence.
Brisbane coach Kevin Walters said it was "a great day for the Broncos".
"Pat embodies what we are about as a club and he is at the heart of what we are building here together," Walters said.
"He is a key part of everything we do and to have him commit to the Broncos for another four years is really special."
Carrigan came through the club's academy system, going on to captain the under 20s team before graduating to the NRL squad where he went through tough times in 2020 when the club took out the wooden spoon.
He then ruptured his ACL in 2021 before bouncing back brilliantly last season.
Carrigan said he loved the Broncos and "could never imagine leaving".
"We are building something special here together and I wanted to make a long-term commitment to be a part of that," he said.
"A lot of us guys have been through the tough times together and now we are starting to show signs of what we can do if we work hard and work for each other."
Carrigan has made it clear that breaking the Broncos' 17-year premiership drought is high on his agenda
All of Australia's 17 players in the World Cup final have won NRL finals matches apart from Carrigan. Many of them have won premierships and Carrigan now wants to "be like them".
"All of the rep accolades are nice and being part of those teams but all I ever wanted to do as a kid was play for the Brisbane Broncos, and second to that was win a comp'," he said recently.
"Every year that rolls around that we don't do that is 'X amount' of years since 2006.
"Being around those (World Cup) guys and the Penrith guys has made me hungrier than ever to put myself in that position."
