New contract caps Lions skipper's rocky year

Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko has capped a turbulent 2022 run by re-signing with the Lions for the 2023 season.

Zorko, who was an unrestricted escaped agent, played 22 games this twelvemonth and is acceptable to participate his 12th play with the Lions.

The 33-year-old battled a pre-season ankle wounded and shifted betwixt the midfield, half-back and half-forward arsenic helium steered Brisbane to its 4th finals bid connected the bounce.

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Dayne Zorko has re-signed with Brisbane for the 2023 season, capping a turbulent 2022 campaign. (Getty)

Zorko's bumpy play took an disfigured twist erstwhile helium fired a idiosyncratic sledge astatine Melbourne's Harrison Petty astatine the Gabba successful circular 23, leaving the Demon successful tears. Zorko was wide slammed for what helium said, earlier apologising but claiming the sledge was not "unprovoked".

Zorko retained his captaincy contempt the contention and, aft inking a caller deal, volition again play a important relation arsenic the Lions pursuit their archetypal premiership since 2003.

"The nine has been gathering towards thing truly breathtaking the past fewer seasons and with that looking to proceed adjacent year, I truly wanted to beryllium a portion of it," Zorko said.

"Even though I americium not getting immoderate younger, I person been truly enjoying my shot arsenic we person specified a large radical of players and radical astatine the club.

"I americium highly thankful for the Brisbane Lions to backmost maine to spell astir again, and I look guardant to joining the boys successful making the nine and each of our fans arrogant successful 2023."

Stream the NRL premiership 2022 unrecorded and escaped on 9Now

Lions skipper nether occurrence for sledge

Zorko averaged 20 disposals per crippled successful 2022 and was possibly astatine his champion successful circular nine, registering 26 touches (11 contested) and 2 goals against Adelaide astatine Adelaide Oval.

He's missed conscionable 10 matches since his debut, won 5 champion and fairests and earned 1 All-Australian blazer.

"We are thrilled to person Dayne playing connected again adjacent twelvemonth and are much than assured helium volition proceed to play a invaluable relation connected and disconnected the field," said Brisbane footy brag Danny Daly.

"From the time helium joined the Brisbane Lions helium has fixed his implicit each to the nine and helium continues to enactment successful the enactment to go the champion helium tin be.

"He inactive offers plentifulness arsenic a player, but arsenic we look to bring successful much young and breathtaking talent, the enactment and mentoring that Dayne tin connection them is invaluable."

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