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Broncos sign Scott Prince after Titans grant him a release..
Peter Badel and Todd Balym
The Courier-Mail
October 31, 2012 11:16AM
BRISBANE Broncos have confirmed the signing of former Gold Coast skipper Scott Prince on a two-year contract, ensuring the 32-year-old halfback will end his NRL career in Queensland.
Prince has negotiated a released from the final year of his Titans contract and will join Anthony Griffin's squad at the Broncos where he will fight for the No.7 jersey against NSW Origin contender Peter Wallace.
"The NRMA Insurance Broncos have today agreed to a two-year deal that will bring Scott Prince back to the club he last played with in 2003," the Broncos said in a statement.
"He will begin training with the Broncos when pre-season starts on Monday."
Broncos coach Anthony Griffin is due to speak to the media this afternoon.
The move will also ensure that Prince celebrates the 300-game milestone in the NRL at some stage next season.
Prince had been left stranded on 278 games when his career at the Titans hit the cross roads a fortnight ago when he was told the club would not accept the fifth and final year of his contract for 2014.
He had been linked with a three-year deal to move to Hull FC, but yesterday he rejected that opportunity and shocked Titans officials with his request for a release anyway to join south-east Queensland rivals the Broncos.
The Broncos will be able to get him at a bargain price, with the Titans set to provide Prince's new club a subsidy of up to $200,000 on his current $400,000-a-season contract for 2013.
Prince played for the club between 2001-03 before two serious leg injuries convinced him to start afresh at the Wests Tigers.
Titans coach John Cartwright said he had expected Prince to be at the club in 2013.
"He had a contract with us and the meeting that I had with Scott outlined the fact that he was a big part of our plans for 2013 because, as you van see, we haven’t gone out and sourced another halfback,” Cartwright said.
“I was consulted on the option for 2014…to commit to anyone at the end of 2012 for 2014 when he’s 33-34 years-old is a big ask.
“At this stage it was too early to commit for season 2014
“Most players in that position if they feel they can keep playing are going to try to keep playing.”
Gold Coast CEO David May confirmed earlier Prince would remain in the NRL after a 90-minute chat with the halfback at Gold Coast headquarters last night.
"Scott formally asked us for a release from the final year of his contract yesterday and it was quite a long day, but after some discussions internally and with Scott, we accepted that request and granted a release late last night," May said.
"We just wanted to do the right thing by him. This came from a conversation we had with him about 2014, we had an option to extend his contract for that season and we made it clear very early we wouldn't be taking that up because of our plans.
"It's a good outcome for everybody, we have to be thankful that one of the top players in the NRL took a punt to come to a new franchise in 2007 and the service he has given the Gold Coast, the fans and the community is remarkable.
"In granting him a release, it's as much a testament of the impact he has had here as anything else."
Peter Badel and Todd Balym
The Courier-Mail
October 31, 2012 11:16AM
BRISBANE Broncos have confirmed the signing of former Gold Coast skipper Scott Prince on a two-year contract, ensuring the 32-year-old halfback will end his NRL career in Queensland.
Prince has negotiated a released from the final year of his Titans contract and will join Anthony Griffin's squad at the Broncos where he will fight for the No.7 jersey against NSW Origin contender Peter Wallace.
"The NRMA Insurance Broncos have today agreed to a two-year deal that will bring Scott Prince back to the club he last played with in 2003," the Broncos said in a statement.
"He will begin training with the Broncos when pre-season starts on Monday."
Broncos coach Anthony Griffin is due to speak to the media this afternoon.
The move will also ensure that Prince celebrates the 300-game milestone in the NRL at some stage next season.
Prince had been left stranded on 278 games when his career at the Titans hit the cross roads a fortnight ago when he was told the club would not accept the fifth and final year of his contract for 2014.
He had been linked with a three-year deal to move to Hull FC, but yesterday he rejected that opportunity and shocked Titans officials with his request for a release anyway to join south-east Queensland rivals the Broncos.
The Broncos will be able to get him at a bargain price, with the Titans set to provide Prince's new club a subsidy of up to $200,000 on his current $400,000-a-season contract for 2013.
Prince played for the club between 2001-03 before two serious leg injuries convinced him to start afresh at the Wests Tigers.
Titans coach John Cartwright said he had expected Prince to be at the club in 2013.
"He had a contract with us and the meeting that I had with Scott outlined the fact that he was a big part of our plans for 2013 because, as you van see, we haven’t gone out and sourced another halfback,” Cartwright said.
“I was consulted on the option for 2014…to commit to anyone at the end of 2012 for 2014 when he’s 33-34 years-old is a big ask.
“At this stage it was too early to commit for season 2014
“Most players in that position if they feel they can keep playing are going to try to keep playing.”
Gold Coast CEO David May confirmed earlier Prince would remain in the NRL after a 90-minute chat with the halfback at Gold Coast headquarters last night.
"Scott formally asked us for a release from the final year of his contract yesterday and it was quite a long day, but after some discussions internally and with Scott, we accepted that request and granted a release late last night," May said.
"We just wanted to do the right thing by him. This came from a conversation we had with him about 2014, we had an option to extend his contract for that season and we made it clear very early we wouldn't be taking that up because of our plans.
"It's a good outcome for everybody, we have to be thankful that one of the top players in the NRL took a punt to come to a new franchise in 2007 and the service he has given the Gold Coast, the fans and the community is remarkable.
"In granting him a release, it's as much a testament of the impact he has had here as anything else."
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