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After a long and, some would say, “almost” successful career in the NRL, Brisbane Broncos playmaker Scott Prince has announced that this season will be his last.
The Broncos released a short statement on Monday morning saying that the veteran would not be returning to the club at the end of the season, bringing to an end a 16-year career filled with several highs and lows.
Marred by untimely injuries throughout this career, Prince struggled to ever get the recognition and representative reward he truly deserved as a footballer.
Queensland’s embarrassment of riches meant that Prince (who at various times was playing superb football) was never able to break into their Origin squad, and when finally given a chance, his fallible body let him down once more.
Still, Prince closes the door on his career with over 300 games to his name, a premiership trophy and long-lasting legacies at a slew of NRL clubs.
He finishes having achieved essentially everything he could and will close the door on his career, fittingly, at the club where his career finally started to take shape.
Signed by the Broncos towards the end of the 2012 season, Prince has played a key role in Brisbane’s season this year — especially throughout the Origin period that has always played havoc for the Broncos’ finals chances.
Four weeks out from the post-season, Brisbane currently sit in 13th position but just two points off the 7th-placed Newcastle Knights (who they play this Friday).
They are still every chance at playing finals footy, and if Anthony Griffin’s men do finish inside the top eight, they can thank their star halfback for pulling them through this year.
Given how important Prince has been to the Broncos this year, the thought of his absence next season is a harsh reality for the club to now face. Add in the list of players that are already leaving the club in 2014 and Griffin has plenty of things to do.
Five-eighth Corey Norman will join the Parramatta Eels next season; Peter Wallace is off to Gus Gould and the Penrith Panthers. The likes of Duncan Paia’Aua, Kurt Baptiste and Cameron Cullen have been strong for the club’s under-20’s team and in fringe roles this season, but none appear ready to take command of the Broncos’ attack. Brisbane have a serious lack of first-grade proven playmaking ability at the club.
The ‘Now Hiring’ sign is no doubt being put up right now, with the search for replacements suddenly gaining increasing importance and urgency.
Raiders’ playmaker Anthony Milford seems the most likely off-season recruit for Griffin, but he’ll likely face strong opposition from Canberra.
The Raiders know just how talented Milford is, and with the ability to shine from either the No. 1 or No. 6 jerseys, they’ll be desperate to retain his services for next year. Interim coach Andrew Dunemann said as much after Sunday’s loss to Manly.
Milford reportedly wants out of the club to go back to Brisbane to be with his sick father, making the Broncos the most likely destination for the starlet—especially given their caping need for talented playmakers at the moment.
Outside of Milford, applications don’t appear to be flowing in for the Broncos.
Assuming they do end up with the Raiders’ star, the club’s most likely move would be to try and wrap up a more conventional halfback to partner with the unconventional Milford.
Someone like Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans (who has been linked with a move away from the club in the past few days) or even a player like the Roosters’ Daniel Mortimer or the Bulldogs’ Kris Keating (who both can’t find regular first-team football in their current squads) could be an option.
There’s also an argument to be made for Brisbane trying to secure a younger player for next season—looking for a long-term combination with Milford in the halves. Holden Cup stars Jaelen Feeney (Bulldogs) or even Mitchell Cornish (who played with Milford in Canberra) could be worth pursuing by Brisbane.
Either way, it’s clear that Brisbane—now without their three main playmaking options for next year—need to sign someone, and fast.
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