Aussie side re-signs another key player

NEWS: The Queensland Reds back row has been bolstered by flank Adam Korczyk putting pen to paper to remain at Ballymore next season.

Korczyk has signed a one-year deal with Queensland and follows Samu Kerevi, Izack Rodda, JP Smith, Filipo Daugunu, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Aidan Toua and Alex Mafi, who have all re-committed to the Reds in the past month.

Korczyk established himself as a regular member of the Reds matchday 23 during the 2018 Super Rugby season and currently has 26 Queensland caps to his name after being handed a Reds contract in 2015.

His signature complements the Reds already-strong back row alongside fellow loose-forwards Scott Higginbotham, Caleb Timu, Liam Wright and Angus Scott-Young. Like fellow Red Lukhan Tui, Korczyk has the ability to play in the second row, or the back row.

After standout performances in 2017, Korczyk was named in the Wallabies 33-man squad for the opening two Bledisloe Cup Tests of The Rugby Championship in that year.

The 23-year-old continues to develop not only as a player, but a leader after being handed the captaincy of the Brisbane City in this year’s National Rugby Championship (NRC).

2018 was his fifth-straight season with Brisbane City where he played every game and included scoring a try over rivals Bond University Queensland Country in their Round Five derby victory at Wests.

Korczyk said he was excited to remain at the Reds and continue his development under head coach Brad Thorn.

“I love Queensland, I love playing for Queensland and for me staying in Queensland was the best option for my Rugby career progression,” said Korczyk.

“It’s a competitive environment we have here at the Reds – especially in the back row group with guys like Scott Higginbotham, Liam Wright, Caleb Timu and Angus Scott-Young and it’s just going to make me better.

“Being under Brad this season was great and with the additions of Jim McKay and Peter Ryan to the coaching staff I think it’s exciting and we’ve got a good playing group so it’ll be good to see where we go next year,” Korczyk added.

Thorn said: “Adam’s a good team man and a hard-working member of our squad. He gives us options in the back-row and second-row, is developing as a footballer and has room for further growth.”

Born in New Zealand to Polish parents, it wasn’t until Korczyk’s family moved to Brisbane in 2007 that he discovered his love of Rugby at Brisbane State High School from where he represented Queensland and Australian Schoolboys in 2012.