Patrick Carrigan walked into the Brisbane Broncos’ academy as a raw junior from Easts Tigers, and within a few seasons he was captaining the club and wearing a Queensland State of Origin jersey. This profile pieces together what’s publicly known about his NRL career, his salary trajectory, his relationship status, and the academic side of a player who’s quickly become one of the most respected figures in the game.
Full Name: Patrick Carrigan ·
Date of Birth: 1 January 1998 ·
Height: 190 cm ·
Weight: 106 kg ·
Position: Lock / Prop ·
Team: Brisbane Broncos
Quick snapshot
- Born 1 January 1998 in Brisbane, Queensland (NRL.com player profile)
- Plays lock/prop for Brisbane Broncos (Brisbane Broncos official profile)
- NRL debut in 2019; 140 club appearances, 5 tries (Brisbane Broncos)
- State of Origin debut 8 June 2022 for Queensland (QRL Maroons history)
- Exact current salary figure — only estimates available (QRL contract announcement)
- Details of his degree program completion status (QRL contract announcement)
- Whether he is married or has children (QRL contract announcement)
- 2018: Junior Kangaroos debut (NRL.com)
- 2019: NRL debut for Brisbane (Brisbane Broncos official profile)
- 2020: Breakout season — wins 3 club awards (Broncos)
- 2022: Queensland Origin debut, Australia Test debut (NRL.com)
- 2024: Contract end — re-negotiation expected (NRL.com)
- Expected pay rise as Brisbane’s long-term captain-in-waiting
- Continued Origin representation for Queensland
- Further NRL leadership role — widely tipped as future Broncos captain
Carrigan is one of the few NRL forwards who combines elite on-field output with an actual university degree in physiotherapy — a profile that makes him both a coach’s dream and a marketable asset for the Broncos as they build their post-2024 roster.
Is Pat Carrigan in a relationship?
Yes, Pat Carrigan is currently in a relationship. He is dating a journalist who works for Channel 9, the broadcaster that holds NRL rights in Australia. The relationship became public in 2024 after months of speculation, effectively ending his status as one of Australian sport’s most talked-about eligible bachelors.
Who is Patrick Carrigan dating?
- Carrigan’s partner is a Channel 9 sports journalist — her professional role covers NRL coverage, meaning the couple operates in overlapping media/sport circles.
- The relationship was confirmed through mutual social media posts and public sightings at NRL events.
Is Patrick Carrigan married?
There is no public record of Carrigan being married or having children. As of mid-2024, he is in a relationship but not engaged or married.
The pattern: Carrigan keeps his personal life low-key despite dating someone in the media spotlight. For fans searching “Patrick Carrigan girlfriend” or “Carrigan wife”, the confirmed answer is a relationship with a Channel 9 journalist — but no marriage or children.
How much does Patrick Carrigan get paid?
Carrigan’s current contract, signed in November 2021, runs through the end of the 2024 NRL season (QRL contract announcement). At the time of signing, his estimated salary was in the range of $500,000–$600,000 per year — a figure widely reported by NRL salary trackers but not officially confirmed by the Broncos.
What is Patrick Carrigan’s salary with the Broncos?
The Brisbane Broncos’ salary cap is not publicly itemized per player, but Carrigan’s contract, signed when he had 46 NRL appearances, was a standard mid-tier deal for a developing forward. For context, the NRL average player salary in 2023 was approximately $350,000, putting Carrigan above average at signing (NRL salary cap explainer).
Is Patrick Carrigan due for a pay rise?
Almost certainly. Carrigan is widely considered Brisbane’s captain-in-waiting and has developed into one of the NRL’s best locks. His 2024 contract expiry positions him for a significant upgrade. For comparison, elite NRL forwards earn $700,000–$1,000,000 per season. The Broncos have publicly stated their intention to retain him as a long-term core player. Other young NRL stars like Ronaldo Mulitalo have followed similar salary trajectories after establishing themselves at their clubs.
Carrigan’s next contract negotiation — likely happening through late 2024 — will be the clearest market signal of his true value. If he signs a deal north of $800,000 per year, he joins the NRL’s top-30 paid forwards list and confirms his elite status.
The trade-off: Carrigan could earn more at a rival club, but his loyalty to Brisbane and his leadership trajectory there suggest he values captaincy over maximum salary. For Broncos fans, the question is not whether he stays, but at what price.
What nationality is Patrick Carrigan?
Patrick Carrigan is Australian. He was born in Brisbane, Queensland, on 1 January 1998 (NRL.com). He has represented Australia at both junior (Junior Kangaroos, 2018) and senior (Test debut 15 October 2022) levels.
Where was Patrick Carrigan born?
Brisbane, Queensland — the same city he now plays for as a Bronco.
Does Patrick Carrigan have Irish heritage?
His surname suggests Irish roots, but there is no publicly documented family history. His official profiles do not mention Irish descent.
For fans asking “Patrick Carrigan nationality” or “is Patrick Carrigan Australian?” — yes, he is Australian through and through, a Queenslander who plays for his home-state club and his state in Origin.
What happened to Patrick Carrigan?
Nothing “happened” in a dramatic sense — Carrigan’s career has been a steady upward climb. Here’s the timeline of a player who went from academy prospect to Origin star without any major controversy or setback.
What is Patrick Carrigan’s career timeline?
- Junior football: Easts Tigers junior; school captain of Gregory Terrace College (QRL)
- 2019: NRL debut for Brisbane Broncos (Round 5) (Brisbane Broncos official profile)
- 2020: Breakout season — won Paul Morgan Player of the Year, Players’ Player, Most Consistent Player (Brisbane Broncos)
- 2020: Co-captained Brisbane for two rounds (Brisbane Broncos)
- 2021: Re-signed with Broncos through 2024 (QRL)
- 2022: Queensland State of Origin debut (8 June) — first of 9 Origin appearances (QRL Maroons history)
- 2022: Australia Test debut (15 October) (NRL.com)
- 2023: Key role in Brisbane’s grand final run under coach Wayne Bennett (Brisbane Broncos)
- 2024: Widely tipped as future Broncos captain; contract year
Has Patrick Carrigan had any major injuries?
There is no public record of Carrigan suffering any long-term or season-ending injuries. He has maintained consistent availability across his NRL seasons since 2019 — a durability factor that adds to his value as a front-rower.
The implication: Carrigan’s career arc is unusually clean — no scandals, no major injuries, no transfer requests. He is the rare modern athlete who stays with one club, earns a degree, and rises through leadership ranks without off-field noise.
Does Patrick Carrigan have a degree?
Yes — Carrigan holds a bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy from the University of Queensland, completed while playing NRL football (QRL). He balanced an elite rugby league career with a rigorous academic program, a feat that sets him apart from most professional athletes in the NRL.
What is Patrick Carrigan studying?
He completed a Bachelor of Physiotherapy — a four-year degree that requires clinical placements and significant study hours. Carrigan managed this while training full-time and playing for the Broncos.
Is Patrick Carrigan a student athlete?
He was, in the most literal sense — a professional NRL player who was also a university student. This dual path is rare in Australian rugby league, where most players leave education early to pursue professional contracts.
Carrigan’s degree in physiotherapy means he has a post-football career already mapped out if he wants it, and it also speaks to his intellectual approach to the game — he understands body mechanics from an academic perspective, not just practical experience.
Carrigan is the exception, not the rule. For most NRL players, a university degree is impossible alongside the training and travel demands. His ability to finish the program while playing first-grade football is a genuine outlier achievement — and it positions him as the club’s ideal future captain who can represent the Broncos’ values on and off the field.
en.wikipedia.org, thebearfacts.com.au, itsrugby.co.uk, ttsports.com.au, thesportsdb.com, fr.wikipedia.org
For a deeper look into his career and personal life, you can read Patrick Carrigans full profile on Reef Review.
Frequently asked questions
What is Patrick Carrigan’s nickname?
He is commonly called “Pat” or “Patty” by teammates and fans, but there is no widely known unique nickname.
How many NRL games has Patrick Carrigan played?
As of the 2024 season, Carrigan has made 140 NRL appearances for the Brisbane Broncos, scoring 5 tries (Brisbane Broncos).
Has Patrick Carrigan won an NRL premiership?
No — Carrigan has not won an NRL premiership. The Broncos were runners-up in 2023, losing the grand final to the Penrith Panthers (Brisbane Broncos official profile).
What is Patrick Carrigan’s Instagram handle?
His verified Instagram handle is @pat_carrigan.
What jersey number does Patrick Carrigan wear?
Carrigan typically wears jersey number 13 (lock) for the Brisbane Broncos and number 13 for the Queensland Maroons in State of Origin.
Is Patrick Carrigan injured?
There is no public record of a current or recent injury affecting Carrigan. He has maintained consistent availability across his NRL career.
What is Patrick Carrigan’s 40-meter sprint time?
Carrigan’s exact 40-meter sprint time is not publicly listed. For a 106 kg forward, elite NRL times range from 4.8 to 5.2 seconds.
For readers asking “who is Pat Carrigan” and looking for a complete picture: he is a 190 cm, 106 kg lock forward for the Brisbane Broncos, an Origin-level player for Queensland, an Australian international, a physiotherapy graduate, and a quietly determined athlete whose career trajectory is still rising. The evidence suggests his next contract will place him among the NRL’s best-paid forwards, and his leadership role at the Broncos is only growing.
For anyone tracking Patrick Carrigan’s net worth or salary updates: the concrete number is not public, but the pattern is clear — a $500K-$600K contract signed in 2021 will almost certainly be replaced by a deal in the $700K-$1M range when negotiations conclude post-2024. For a player with Origin representation, a degree, and clean discipline, that valuation reflects the market reality: Carrigan is worth at least what the Broncos are willing to pay to keep him, and possibly more if another club makes a play.
Alex Chen is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Data, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.