Brisbane reshuffle forward pack with Alex Glen set to join Gold Coast Titans
Whoever is in charge at Brisbane next season will be coaching a inexperienced but exciting forward pack, with veteran Alex Glenn set to follow Josh McGuire out the door.
Broncos
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The Broncos are clearing the decks with Kangaroos star Josh McGuire heading to the Cowboys and Alex Glenn also set to leave Red Hill.
McGuire has played his last game for the Broncos after securing a shock release to take up a $3 million deal with North Queensland.
And The Courier-Mail can reveal the reliable Glenn may join him at the exits as the Gold Coast Titans weigh up making a play for the New Zealand Test representative.
McGuire’s departure will allow the Broncos to finalise deals to keep off-contract stars Corey Oates, Tevita Pangai Jr and Matt Lodge ahead of their return to training in the coming weeks.
McGuire, 28, played 194 games for the Broncos and was the club’s only current Kangaroos representative.
His departure will cost the Broncos crucial experience, however it will help the club retain one of the most exciting young squads in the NRL.
Broncos captain Darius Boyd will return to training on Thursday (next week) along with Oates and Lodge while Tonga representative Pangai Jr is due back later this month.
“I’m expecting to see them next week, I don’t have any concerns (that they won’t be re-signed),” Boyd said.
“These things (contract delays) always happen. They don’t always run to time.
“I’ve seen most of them in the off-season except for Tevita. I’ve been doing some training with Lodgey and that’s pretty reassuring he’s going to be there.
“I’ve spoken to Oatesy plenty of times as well. They know where they stand.”
Cowboys coach Paul Green has been speaking personally with the Broncos to orchestrate McGuire’s move as doubts hover over the future of North Queensland captain Matt Scott.
Scott, 33, underwent a second round of neck surgery in the off-season and has been restricted to non-contact training.
The 251-game former Maroons and Kangaroos warhorse has had a wretched run with injuries in the past two years and McGuire’s arrival in Townsville on a four or five-year deal will alleviate pressure on North Queensland’s middle forward rotation.
Glenn, 30, is contracted to the Broncos until the end of the 2019 season, however he
faces the prospect of taking a significant pay cut to remain at Red Hill beyond his current deal.
Brisbane will not stand in Glenn’s way if he requests a release to join the Titans immediately, as long as the financial terms are palatable to the Broncos.
Glenn, who lives on the Gold Coast, has been a loyal servant to the Broncos since making his NRL debut in 2009.
In his 238-game career, he has never played less than 20 games in a season, proving his durability and reliability in the NRL pressure-cooker.
But Glenn is under pressure to retain a starting berth at the Broncos following the emergence of Queensland Origin prospect Jaydn Su’A and return of Test forward Matt Gillett from injury.
The Broncos will boast one of the best young forward packs in the NRL in years to come with the likes of David Fifita and Payne Haas also developing.
“It’s a really exciting group,” Boyd said.
“Some of the guys that debuted this year did such a great job at a young age. They will be more experienced and better for the run.
“Guys like Tevita and Joe (Ofahengaue) played well and are really starting to come into their own.
“They are becoming leaders in the group and that makes a massive difference.”
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