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Brisbane Broncos playmaker Scott Prince on the bench. Source: Tim Hunter / News Limited
A SHATTERED Scott Prince is facing the prospect of retirement, with the Broncos indicating the veteran playmaker will not be an integral part of the club's plans next season.
As he prepares for Brisbane's must-win game against the Cowboys on Friday, Prince's 15-year career could soon be over after discussions with Broncos hierarchy about his future.
The 33-year-old is contracted for another season, but has been given no guarantees of NRL action in 2014 as Broncos coach Anthony Griffin presides over a regeneration of the club's roster.
The development comes at a difficult time for the Broncos, who are banking on Prince's experience to overcome one of his former clubs, the Cowboys, and keep their season alive in Townsville.
Griffin declined to comment when contacted Thursday night.
The Courier-Mail understands the Broncos are happy to honour the final 12 months of Prince's deal, but he risks spending it languishing with a feeder club in the Intrust Super Cup.
The ignominy of a former Origin and Test halfback playing second-tier football with part-timers next year could convince Prince to quit the NRL at season's end on his terms.
Currently on 293 NRL games, Prince is on course to celebrate his 300th match in the final regular-season round against the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium.
Prince's halves partner Peter Wallace faces a similar predicament.
Axed to the bench on Tuesday, Wallace believes he is surplus to requirements at Red Hill and has begun exploring options to continue his career in the NRL.
Prince could put retirement on the backburner with a stint in the English Super League, but with his family happily settled on the Gold Coast, he would be reluctant to head offshore.
Prince's shock recruitment in the wake of his bitter split with the Titans was always going to be a boom-or-bust move.
His signing raised the ire of rising pivot Corey Norman, who subsequently signed with Parramatta.
And while Prince has shown glimpses of his glory days, he and Wallace have struggled to consistently ignite a Broncos outfit languishing in 12th place.
The departure of Prince and Wallace would leave a major void at the Broncos scrumbase in 2014.
Boom 18-year-old halfback Ashley Taylor is likely to be added to the full-time squad, while Ben Hunt could be an option at five-eighth.
However, any playmaking strain would be eased by the arrival of Bulldogs sensation Ben Barba, who is tipped to join the Broncos next season and could be a game-breaker in the No.6 jumper.
Cowboys pivot Johnathan Thurston last night defended Brisbane's purchase of Prince and said he is wary of his former Queensland Origin halves partner.
"They have players moving on with the shuffles they have made, but they will still be confident in the halves with Scotty there," he said.
"I played Origin alongside him and the Indigenous All Stars, he's won a premiership, played for his country and won a number of Origins.
"Princey is probably what they needed, especially with Locky (Darren Lockyer) retiring.
"They needed an old head to steer them around the park. He is a great footballer and hopefully we can limit him as much as possible."
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