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BRISBANE appears set to revamp its playmaking core, with speculation mounting that veteran halves Scott Prince and Peter Wallace will sever ties with the Broncos at season's end.
While each has another 12 months to run on their contracts, it is understood coach Anthony Griffin has recently informed both of his desire to take the club in a different direction after what has been a horror 2013 campaign.
In line with that, the Broncos are poised to announce the signing of a second Roosters forward inside a month, with hulking young Queensland prop Martin Kennedy set to sign a three-year deal with the club from next season. It follows the signing of Ipswich product Lama Tasi last month and adds some much-needed size to the Broncos pack.
Following his meeting with the coach, Wallace, who has been shunted back to the Broncos interchange bench for tonight's do-or-die derby clash with the North Queensland Cowboys, immediately began sourcing potential clubs for 2014 and beyond.
However, given most clubs have all but finalised their rosters for next year, the gutsy Penrith product has yet to find a club with the salary cap space needed to sign a player of his standing.
Prince, on the other hand, seems likely to call time on his glittering career, which has seen him earn State of Origin and Test honours and skipper the Wests Tigers to the 2005 NRL premiership.
The news will no doubt have rocked the Broncos camp ahead of the must-win encounter tonight, but indicates the club's realisation of just how dire its predicament is.
**The Australian has learned Brisbane has shown a keen interest in highly rated Tigers youngsters Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses, with exciting Canberra young gun Anthony Milford also said to be on Brisbane's radar.**
With Corey Norman heading to Parramatta next season, hooker Andrew McCullough could be the only remaining member of the Broncos "spine" to retain his position, although he is also under pressure to lift his game, with rumours rife that Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith is looking to come "home" to Brisbane in 2014, to finish his career.
Griffin, though, was far more concerned with the present than the future following yesterday's final training run, where prop Ben Hannant was ruled out with an ongoing calf problem.
Mitchell Dodds comes into the starting side in Hannant's place and will partner fellow rugged youngster Josh McGuire in the front row, with Dunamis Lui and Lama Tasi the bench support.
"It (Hannant's injury) is a big blow. You'd like to have him out there," Griffin said. "But we are still pretty solid with Lui, Stagg and Tasi. They just have to get out there and do the job."
Brisbane will of course be boosted by returning Origin quartet Sam Thaiday, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker and Justin Hodges – with Parker admitting it was incumbent upon them to lift the struggling Brisbane outfit.
"It's important that we do our job," Parker said of Brisbane's big four.
"That's what it is for us, our job, so regardless of how you're feeling you need to get out there and execute and get the job done.
"It's not an easy thing with Origin. It's such a massive occasion these days and it's such a big build-up so it does take its toll, but the club understands that as well."
While each has another 12 months to run on their contracts, it is understood coach Anthony Griffin has recently informed both of his desire to take the club in a different direction after what has been a horror 2013 campaign.
In line with that, the Broncos are poised to announce the signing of a second Roosters forward inside a month, with hulking young Queensland prop Martin Kennedy set to sign a three-year deal with the club from next season. It follows the signing of Ipswich product Lama Tasi last month and adds some much-needed size to the Broncos pack.
Following his meeting with the coach, Wallace, who has been shunted back to the Broncos interchange bench for tonight's do-or-die derby clash with the North Queensland Cowboys, immediately began sourcing potential clubs for 2014 and beyond.
However, given most clubs have all but finalised their rosters for next year, the gutsy Penrith product has yet to find a club with the salary cap space needed to sign a player of his standing.
Prince, on the other hand, seems likely to call time on his glittering career, which has seen him earn State of Origin and Test honours and skipper the Wests Tigers to the 2005 NRL premiership.
The news will no doubt have rocked the Broncos camp ahead of the must-win encounter tonight, but indicates the club's realisation of just how dire its predicament is.
**The Australian has learned Brisbane has shown a keen interest in highly rated Tigers youngsters Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses, with exciting Canberra young gun Anthony Milford also said to be on Brisbane's radar.**
With Corey Norman heading to Parramatta next season, hooker Andrew McCullough could be the only remaining member of the Broncos "spine" to retain his position, although he is also under pressure to lift his game, with rumours rife that Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith is looking to come "home" to Brisbane in 2014, to finish his career.
Griffin, though, was far more concerned with the present than the future following yesterday's final training run, where prop Ben Hannant was ruled out with an ongoing calf problem.
Mitchell Dodds comes into the starting side in Hannant's place and will partner fellow rugged youngster Josh McGuire in the front row, with Dunamis Lui and Lama Tasi the bench support.
"It (Hannant's injury) is a big blow. You'd like to have him out there," Griffin said. "But we are still pretty solid with Lui, Stagg and Tasi. They just have to get out there and do the job."
Brisbane will of course be boosted by returning Origin quartet Sam Thaiday, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker and Justin Hodges – with Parker admitting it was incumbent upon them to lift the struggling Brisbane outfit.
"It's important that we do our job," Parker said of Brisbane's big four.
"That's what it is for us, our job, so regardless of how you're feeling you need to get out there and execute and get the job done.
"It's not an easy thing with Origin. It's such a massive occasion these days and it's such a big build-up so it does take its toll, but the club understands that as well."
