Brisbane lock Jai Arrow has been labelled 'the next Corey Parker' and 2017 now looms as the 20-year-old's chance to make his mark in Broncos colours.
Parker's decision to retire at the end of the 2016 season will leave Brisbane's No.13 jersey vacant for the first time since 2009.
It was in that year that then Broncos coach Ivan Henjak moved Parker from the second row to lock – a masterstroke that has seen Parker's career flourish.
But all great things must come to an end and the Broncos captain's decision to hang up the boots will present one of Brisbane's young forwards an opportunity to take over.
Arrow says he is ready to step up if coach Wayne Bennett decides that he is the man to start at lock in 2017.
"If my time comes then that's great. At the moment I'm just enjoying training with the boys. If I get a go I'll obviously do my best," Arrow said.
"Corey's done everything I want to do in my career. I still have a lot of work to do before I can even think about starting.
"There's a lot of training ahead of me. I wouldn't compare myself to him because he's done a lot more in his career.
"My career is just starting. I'm just trying to learn off him and I'll be doing that for the rest of the year."
It appears as if Arrow is a fast learner, with his outstanding form in the Intrust Super Cup for the Norths Devils seeing him be rewarded with two NRL appearances so far in 2016.
Arrow made his NRL debut in Brisbane's 30-6 win over the Sea Eagles in Round 10. The Burleigh Bears junior has a fair résumé already after having represented the Australian Schoolboys, Junior Kangaroos and most recently Queensland Residents.
He said Parker had been a huge influence on his career and he hoped he could be half the player Parker has been for the Broncos.
"He's influenced me a lot," he said.
"I try and base my game around him because I really look up to him.
"I'm enjoying learning off the people I grew up watching. It's pretty special to be around them and I am relishing it."
