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.
barfly
Guest
Good luck Princey and thanx for the memories u little champion......................................
The Greatest Game of All
Guest
Good on you Princey, I remember when you played for the Cowboys, very exciting, you and Fieny, Mount Isa's Alfie and Kevvie they called youse, the bucking bull (Chainsaw?) and the pistols, back when post try celebrations were the rage, you looked like you were having a blast. Then came the big move to the Broncos, how could you turn that down, a chance to play with the best and be coached by Wayne Bennett, you had the world at your feet, then came the injuries, the dream had turned into a nightmare. An opportunity came up in Sydney, the Wests Tigers, where after all the lows came the highest of highs, A Grand Final victory over your old club, you played a blinder. Benji and his flick pass gets all the credit, but it was you that was awarded the Clive Churchill for best on ground, out pointing your main rival over the years, Jonathan Thurston, it was your career defining moment. It wasn't long until the urge to return home to Qld became too strong, Benji was shattered but the Titans had their marquee signing, a few years on the sunny Gold Coast with good mates Preston Campbell and Matty Rogers, life was good. Fast forward to now and you end up back at the Broncos, the place has changed, not the powerhouse you remember, no more superstars, the Broncos are now struggling, but you gave it your best shot, steering the ship of a young Brisbane back line and almost landing an unlikely finals berth, the number crunchers will say there's still hope. Finally you decided enough was enough, even though you still had a year to go, 2013 will be your last. I hope you reach the magical 300 game club, you deserve it mate, and maybe one more finals appearance.
Peximus
Guest
Rightly said Elijah weightman! Thanks Scot Prince for the joy in having watched you play for all those clubs, including Queensland & Auatralia! A wonderful career indeed! Absolute champ! Cheers Princey!
Elijah Weightman
Roar Guru
Thanks for your services to the Cowboys, the proud state of Queensland and Australia as a whole Princey. Congratulations on a highly successful career.
Glenn Innes
Guest
Jack - well said brother "almost successful" I remember the year Lockyer got injured after first origin game ( which QLD lost) Prince came in and partnered Thurston in the halves for the last two and played brilliantly playing a major role in QLD taking the series. The author sets a pretty high bar for successful - maybe a dozen players a decade.
The eye
Guest
I think the article is very kind to him,no mention whatsoever of his unwillingness to tackle,give away on line penalties or his Gold Coast builder..Titans had no recognised 1/2 at the time and still punted him,unless Milford is believed to be a done deal its déjà vu at the Broncos.
ken oldman
Guest
Scott Prince is a very talented footballer and a decent human being from all the accounts that I have heard of him....which is a joy in itself in this day and era. In my view before the Broncos start "hiring players" they need to replace the coach,not that he has done anything wrong but he is virtually unknown outside his back door. Everybody knows that a successful coach,a top coach a big time coach or whatever you want to call him will attract exceptional players to the club.........can you imagine say any origin players whether maroon or blue that would be interested in advancing their rep. prospects by joining the Broncos and playing under the present regime So where does the Club start.......... I say with MENINGA....o,k. contracts are being broken everyday...but this is the standard of coach that I am talking about.and there is Tim Sheens sitting around doing nothing but still a prospect, Lets go Broncos.
s.madd
Guest
And Hoffmans one good game? I'd bet my house he'll win Broncos player of the year this year.
Pest
Guest
Aaaaa ha ha ha , didn't take long , if there's one thing you are it's that , oh and your word is worthless
Australian Rules
Guest
Fair enough.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Agree on the beat-up, but all I said was that DCE was linked away. Nice catch on the Keating one—missed that. Apologies.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Never said it wasn't successful. Never for a minute. I only said that he never got the recognition that he deserved, and that's what led to him being "almost" successful in the minds of many.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Hence the "" around almost. I'll be the first to say that Scott Prince has had an incredibly successful career. You don't need to convince a Tigers fan that Prince is an absolute legend of the game. The point is that far, far, far too many don't see Prince as having a successful career. Clearly he has, but too many people see the injuries and the fact he "only" played a handful of Origins as him having a sub-standard career. Not his fault that QLD had Lockyer, Thurston, Berrigan, Cronk and others all waiting in the wings while he was trying to get a spot. I'm not saying for a minute that his career hasn't been successful. "Marred by untimely injuries throughout this career, Prince struggled to ever get the recognition and representative reward he truly deserved as a footballer. [...] 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." Not for a minute saying his career wasn't successful. Saying it never got the recognition and that, rightly or wrongly, has many seeing Prince as "not as successful" as he should be.
Australian Rules
Guest
Congratulations to Scott for a fantastic career. I agree with Jack above that this article's pretty harsh - 5 Origin and 4 Aust selections is good by any measure.
oikee
Guest
Nice work Princey, shame the Titans did not allow you to finish off your career, again the Broncos had to pick up the pieces while other clubs discard their players who dont perform. Now Brisbane have some cash, we should be after 3 players for our spine. Much like the Storm, Cherry-Evans as half, if he is on Manly's books then maybe he sits out a year if we want him at the Broncos. Like Gordon Tallis had to do. Milford, he should be allowed to move back to Brisbane, How Many halves do Canberra want, next they will be chasing 16 year olds. And Barba is ready to come home, the bright lights of Sydney are fading. So that would be a good spine. We also should keep Hunt as a back-up hooker and half. We need more speed around the ruck, i have seen turtles at Australian zoo move faster. If i was Parramatta, i would be doing the same, they have persevered with crap halves for way too long, and juggling Hayne is killing this club. They should look at maybe getting a class half, like Keiren Forun, and some good quality centres to feed Hoparte who will be staved of ball if they dont get fed. That is the trouble with these clubs, we are wasting away by not having good quality halves, Hooker and fullback. I see that Hofman had his one good game again before playing ordinary on the weekend. This second class players has got to stop, it is killing these once great clubs. Buy some quality and be done with it, the rest of the team will have to rise then or go back to park footy. Our clubs are going backwards under this system. Powerhouse clubs reduced to chitlings as Kevin Spacey would say.
Jack
Guest
Don't bother reading this article. I stopped after the first paragraph. 'Almost successful'? A player who has won a premiership and played 5 origins and 4 times for australia has had a successful career! So he has had a rep career, Dan. Go to the broncos website if u want better coverage. Thanks for your services, Princy!
Darren
Guest
Dan, thanks for your article on Scotty Prince, but you might want to do some more research. DCE will be at Manly next year, that was just a news limited beat up to sell papers...and Kris Keating has signed with Hull KR in Super League...
maximillian
Guest
Well done to Prince & I agree with this article that he probably would've played a lot more rep footy if not for injuries & Qlds abundance of riches. The Broncos should do everything to get DCE. He would be the perfect signing for them.