Corey Horsburgh

Originally from Caboolture, Queensland, Corey Horsburgh played his junior football for the Caboolture Snakes and Bribie Island before joining the Redcliffe Dolphins, where he won a junior premiership in 2014. Initially splitting his time with Australian rules football in the Brisbane Lions Academy, Horsburgh committed fully to rugby league at 16, progressing through the North Queensland Cowboys NYC system before moving to the nation's capital after signing with the Canberra Raiders in 2018.

Horsburgh rapidly established himself as the premier forward enforcer in Canberra's pack. He made his first-grade debut in 2019 and capped off an unforgettable rookie season by playing off the bench in the 2019 NRL Grand Final against the Sydney Roosters. Known across the competition as "Big Red" for his fiery persona and no-nonsense physicality, he enjoyed a blockbuster 2023 campaign that culminated in a victorious State of Origin debut for the Queensland Maroons.

Across 132 top-flight games, Horsburgh's elite engine and relentless work rate saw him claim the Raiders Coaches' Award and team captaincy in 2025, before solidifying his status as an elite modern prop in 2026 by averaging 116 running metres, 12 hit-ups, and 36 tackles per game.

Pledging his long-term future to the expansion franchise, Horsburgh has put pen to paper on a three-year contract to spearhead the Perth Bears' engine room from 2027 through 2029. Rejoining fellow Raiders recruit Morgan Smithies in the move west, he arrives as a prime international asset following a senior representative call-up for the Australian Prime Minister's XIII. The Bears view him as a foundational leadership pillar who will inject the critical aggression and championship pedigree required to make an immediate impact from day one.

Head Coach Mal Meninga said securing an Origin-level front-rower of Horsburgh's calibre was a massive milestone for the expansion club's recruitment strategy.

"He's got the aggression, the work-rate and the Origin pedigree we've been targeting, and he slots straight into a pack that's already taking real shape," Meninga said.