The growth of Oates: From back row aim to milestone game

Corey Oates will enter the Broncos record books on Saturday night as a proud one-club player courtesy of some tough love and even tougher advice he collected along his rugby league journey.

First noticed at an under-15's carnival by Brisbane, Oates is set to become just the 16th player to reach 200 games for the club he debuted for at 18 years of age – a time when the talented and versatile teenager was seen relieving the likes of club legends Sam Thaiday and Alex Glenn off the Broncos' bench. 

But come 2015, when Wayne Bennett returned to Brisbane to take over tenure as head coach, one of the first challenges he faced was getting through to the young Bronco from Baralaba, “that just wanted to be a back-rower.”

“I’m not sure what I saw in Corey, I’m still trying to figure that one out,” Bennett told NRL.com, in classic Wayne style.

“He always thought he could play in the back-row. I told him he didn’t have what it took to play there and a lot of people around him told him said the same thing.

“He’s always had a very athletic build but I had to get through to him that he didn’t have the mindset to be a back-rower.

“I gave him an opportunity to play there in the pre-season once and then we all convinced him and he convinced himself that he wasn’t made to play there so he switched his position. And he’s done a very good job since as a winger.”

Oates’ early – and sustained – ambition to play closer to the ruck wasn't any secret to the rugby league world but Bennett was convinced the Queensland country kid would only reach his full potential as an outside back.

Nine Origin appearances and 118 career NRL tries later, there's no questioning that Oates has well and truly made the wing his own.

“I watched him for a long time and I coached him so I would agree that I think he’s playing as good of football today as I’ve seen him play,” Bennett told NRL.com.

“He’s faced all the situations that have come his way, the good, the bad, the indifferent.

“He’s managed to keep himself at a very high level of football and to get 200 games under his belt, playing for Queensland and doing what he does, he’s done very well.

“To his credit he’s come through some difficult times and that’s made him a more mature player and he’s playing some good football at the moment.”

Oates’ journey to 200 games has been all but smooth sailing. Having overcome several serious injuries, the 28-year-old admitted he struggled to accept advice from others early in his career.

"I feel pretty proud of myself for getting this far. A few years ago everyone was writing me off, but I probably deserved it," Oates said ahead of his milestone match.

“I wish I listened. When I was young, the older blokes would tell me you need to look after your body or it'll come back to bite you – it did, and I still didn't listen to people.

“I just thought I could still do everything I could when I was younger but I didn't realise my body was sort of changing up at the time.

I’m just happy I could turn things around and be where I am now again, playing consistent footy and loving it.

Broncos winger Corey Oates

"I was lucky I had some family that didn't get up me at the time and gave me some hard truths.”

Bennett recalled former Broncos skipper Darius Boyd having a big influence on Oates, helping the young winger grow as a person and believe in his ability.

“He should be very proud of himself and I know he would be. He showed a lot of resilience and has overcome a lot of things in his life but has put himself here and has still got football in front of him,” Bennett said.

“I think Darius Boyd has done a really good job with him to be honest. Darius did a lot of work with him when he played with him and Corey had a lot of confidence in Darius.

“He’s the type of player that needs to be confident in the people around him and I think Darius helped him enormously in that regard.”

It could have been a completely different story for the Maroons representative who revealed the Parramatta Eels were also interested in signing him as a junior. 

But growing up in the small Queensland community of Baralaba, Oates said he has and always will be a Bronco, and after turning back the clock in recent seasons, hopes his best is yet to come.

"I almost went to Parra, it was never going to happen, but my old man was a Parra supporter back in the day. He said ‘look I’d love for you to go but I know where your hearts at’," Oates said.

"I just got lucky at a 15s carnival and it all went from there. It’s been a crazy journey but it’s been awesome and I wouldn’t change a thing.

"This club has given me the best opportunities and I wouldn’t be the person I am without being at this club for so long.

"I feel like I’ve been playing some of my best footy for the last few years so I’d love to continue that and to finish up here would be good.

“You always say this but growing up as a kid, I never thought I’d be playing rugby league for a living. Especially playing for a club I grew up supporting my whole life."