- Broncos beat North Queensland Cowboys in derby match
- Players held raucous celebrations in the sheds after the match
- That included odd vision of a long lock of hair, but it was for a good reason
It was one of the strangest victory scenes seen in rugby league, but for the Brisbane Broncos, Friday night’s celebration was about more than just beating the Cowboys.
In the middle of their team song, star forward Pat Carrigan was spotted swinging a ponytail of hair above his head – and it was teammate Xavier Willison’s signature rat’s tail.
The unusual prop wasn’t a prank or a hazing stunt. It was part of a touching moment linked to a charitable bet between Willison and Brisbane Broncos Chairman Karl Morris.
Morris had pledged to donate $5000 to charity if Willison agreed to cut off his trademark plaited mullet.
‘I had a bet with Karl Morris, that he would donate five grand to charity … so I just cut it,’ Willison explained after the match.
‘We were supposed to do it after the game, but I [ended up] cutting it before. But hopefully [the bet] is still on.’
Brisbane Broncos star Pat Carrigan swings around Xavier Willison’s rat’s tail after their win over the North Queensland Cowboys
Willison has become a cult figure for the Broncos and in the NRL with his huge frame and bold hairstyle
The 22-year-old joked that the decision may have also helped his on-field performance.
‘I felt pretty light, it was holding me back a little bit,’ he laughed. ‘Hopefully, I looked lighter out there.’
Brisbane’s 26–16 win over North Queensland marked another confident performance from the young forward, who has quickly become a fixture in the Broncos’ forward rotation.
Willison played a key role in a strong defensive showing, as the Broncos resisted a period of 28 play-the-balls in their half while the Cowboys failed to break through.
‘It was a really good test of our character,’ Broncos coach Michael Maguire said.
‘To see the way they defended and their connection, it was great.’
Willison, who made his NRL debut in 2021, has overcome injury setbacks to establish himself as a powerful presence in the middle.
In 2024, he averaged more than 100 running metres per game, with 23 tackles per game at 94 per cent efficiency, three tries and 38 tackle breaks.
Willison cut off his famous locks after Brisbane Broncos Chairman Karl Morris pledged $5000 to charity if he did it
He also earned his first All-Stars jersey this year, scoring a try on debut for the Māori side. That honour capped off a breakout season in which he re-signed with the Broncos until 2027.
‘I wouldn’t be anywhere else, I can’t imagine not being a Bronco,’ Willison said at the time.
‘I owe so much to this club. Without them I probably wouldn’t even be playing rugby league. They gave me the opportunity to move over from New Zealand and live my dream when I was 15, I’ll forever be grateful.’
Now a proud father, Willison says playing for Brisbane holds even more meaning.
‘Being a Dad now too makes it extra special. This is the kind of environment I want to bring my little girl up in. It gives you that extra motivation, to play for her now too.’
Broncos Academy boss Simon Scanlan praised Willison’s journey.
‘Xavier came into our Academy as a 15-year-old and it has been really pleasing to see his continued development into an NRL player off the back of plenty of hard work,’ Scanlan said.
‘He is at the start of his career and we are looking forward to his growth playing in a forward pack alongside the likes of Carrigan and Haas.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .