The definition of delusional

[TigerOfBankstown]

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."

I doubt it they will leave right now, though I wouldn't be surprised if we see both of them leave for the Broncos considering the Tigers performance in contract management over the years hehe

Lets be honest with ourselves.. I absolutely love the Tigers, but we are an ordinary club with supporters whos expectations may be just a tad unrealistic.. I used to be happy when we were in the running to make the top 8… for some reason now i expect titles year after year... hence this year is overly painful.

2004 to 2011 were the glory years of the tigers, we over achieved with an average team. With our ordinary club and the salary cap, its about playing your cards right, we've been lucky and unlucky in many ways.. that's just the way the current environment is.. but we self destructed in 2012, and now we keep going on about Brooks and moses who have never played a first grade game of footy.. how far have we come in terms of our expectations..?

We are no Broncos, rooster, souths or Bulldogs thats for sure, e.g look at the dogs, i read somewhere that they didnt have a single play from 2008 in 2012, and yet they made the grand final in 2012.

We need to run our club differently from the above... we dont have the organisational skills, pulling power or the money..

We will always be battlers, so lets stop dreaming about Brooks and moses as the saviours.. if they are the next legends of the game, i can assure you that they wont be spending there entire careers at concord oval..

 

[Milky]

They will probably get Mitch Cornish from Raiders.

 

[Tigerpete]

Here's a thought. Brooks and Moses are highly regarded by the Broncos AND Wests Tigers. Brooks and Moses also have a potentially clear path to first grade at the Broncos AND Wests Tigers. Basically both paths look similar but there is one key difference. They're already at the Wests Tigers. In other words, for developments sake it wouldn't matter where they went however they're both local juniors, they are comfortable here. So unless they were to take the dollars I don't see a case in where they could be enticed anywhere. It's all here in front of them. If they're good enough they will achieve their goals here.

 

[Newtown]

For once we have the advantage over Brisbane - instead of talking about lads from Keebra, some of whom are Brisbane-raised and have family ties / affinity for the Broncos, these boys are from Sydney and have plenty of existing ties to Tigers.

Isn't Moses the nephew of Ben Elias who had a one team career with Balmain? You would think that would influence Moses to stay with Wests Tigers. But then again think Mitchell Pearce.