Oates eyeing another Broncos milestone ahead of 200th NRL game

Powerhouse winger Corey Oates could celebrate his 200th NRL game for Brisbane by breaking into the competition’s top 50 all-time tryscorers when the Broncos take on the Bulldogs at Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday.

The reluctant winger, who always wanted to play in the second row despite being told by Brisbane Broncos super coach Wayne Bennett he was “dreaming”, will become only the 16th Brisbane player since 1988 to register 200 games for the club.

“For some reason, Corey thought he would be a great back-rower, I am still not sure why,” Bennett told BettingSite.com.au.

“He had a crack in the position during a pre-season and I think he realised I was right.”

The physical side of the game appeals to Oates so playing in the forwards was like a magnet to him.

While not the fastest winger around, his ability to carry the ball back from kick returns and get into dummy half to take the dirty hit-ups when his forwards are tired has always been recognised as part of his game.

Oates has been a tryscoring machine for Brisbane for a decade, and one more to his career tally of 118 will put him among the top 50 tryscorers in history.

Five more tries would see him pass former fellow winger Michael Hancock (120) and then legend Darren Lockyer (122) to be second only to ‘The Pearl’ Steve Renouf (142 tries) as Brisbane’s all-time leading tryscorer.

“When I was growing up I always wanted to play for the Broncos,” Oates told BettingSite.com.au before his milestone game this weekend.

“To even be close to scoring as many tries as a club legend like Darren Lockyer is hard to believe and pretty humbling, to be honest.”

Oates has been a Bronco since he was first spotted at a rugby league carnival at the age of 15.

Only once – and that was only for a moment – did he ever contemplate leaving for another club, Parramatta, which his father supported growing up.

“I always wanted to play for the Broncos growing up. I owe the club a lot for all the opportunities it has given me over the years,” said Oates, who has overcome a number of injuries, the latest being a broken jaw, during his career.

Born in Biloela, Oates grew up in the tiny Queensland township of Baralaba, which has a population of less than 400 yet has managed to produce two Queensland Origin players – the other being former hooker Jason Hetherington, who played eight games.

A change of attitude to diet and training, as well as becoming a father, has transformed Oates into a far more professional athlete than he was when he started out on his journey.

He admits he didn’t listen to some good advice about taking care of his body when he was younger and thought he was a bit invincible until he copped a few injuries and his body continued developing.

“I should have listened to that advice but I didn’t and I ended up paying the price,” said Oates.

“But as I got older, I realised what they were saying was right and I am pretty proud of the changes and adjustments I have made and the way I have come back after a lot of critics said I was gone a few years ago.”

NRL bookmakers have the Broncos pegged as $1.43 favourites to win at Belmore this weekend, with Canterbury paying $2.86 as home underdogs.

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