'Be patient': motto of Broncos' not so ancient Mariner

Broncos teenager Deine Mariner asked for a release last year but now he wants to stay and be part of a new dynasty with the NRL club.

KOTONI STAGGS.
KOTONI STAGGS. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Brisbane teenager Deine Mariner asked for a release from his contract last year but now he wants to emulate 2006 premiership-winning centre Justin Hodges and win a NRL title with the club.

The 19-year-old is prepared to bide his time to get his chance.

"I have always honoured the saying that 'for those who are patient good things will come'," said Mariner, who impressed and scored a try in the Broncos' 24-all trial match draw with the Gold Coast on Sunday.

Mariner's best position is centre, but he knows that Kotoni Staggs and Herbie Farnworth are the club's first-choice starters at this stage.

He has been signed to the Broncos since he was 15.

His manager Dixon McIver confirmed to AAP that Mariner, under contract until the end of 2024, did previously ask the Broncos for a release.

McIver said the reason for that was due to "where his future laid with the players in front of him" and was solely about a pathway and not any unhappiness with the Broncos.

"We asked the question if he could look elsewhere. It was denied and he is happy with that. End of story," McIver told AAP.

"Deine is a very loyal young man. The Broncos said they see him as a long-term prospect and he was very happy to go along with that."

The Broncos did make a complaint in 2022 to the NRL Integrity Unit that the Dolphins had tried to coerce Mariner into breaking his contract, which the Dolphins denied.

McIver was interviewed and the manager said in his statement that he "did not see an issue" with how the Dolphins had conducted themselves.

Mariner said his heart was with Brisbane.

"Definitely. I have signed the contract and I have got something I owe to the Broncos," he said.

"I am really happy with where I am at the club."

He said it would be "something special" to help break a 17-year title drought and take the Broncos back to the top.

"That is what the club has been known for. Now we are trying to build a squad of juniors that have come through the Broncos system."

Mariner played wing and centre against the Titans and will come off the bench against North Queensland on Saturday night.

He said he wanted to follow in Hodges' footsteps.

"I was a big Broncos fan as a junior and he was in the same position as me and someone I looked up to," he said.

"He didn't have all the best natural abilities but he still somehow gave it 110 (per cent). That's why he was so consistent.

"I think (my best position) is centre. Anywhere I am put I will put my best foot forward for the team."