Retention may again be proving a challenge but Brisbane CEO Paul White says the NRL club will still head to the player market for a marquee replacement for Dragons-bound halfback Ben Hunt.
However, with playmaker Kodi Nikorima already waiting in the wings, White has not ruled out the Broncos production line again providing a ready-made No.7 in 2018.
Hunt was the first to feel the Brisbane salary cap pinch, signing a five-year, $6 million Dragons deal from 2018.
Brisbane still have 20 players off contract this year, featuring 12 of their top 17 including playmaker Anthony Milford, captain-in-waiting Darius Boyd, Test prop Josh McGuire, hooker Andrew McCullough and Queensland winger Corey Oates.
"It's always a challenge every year," White said of retention.
"The nature of the salary cap is that you can't keep everyone.
"But we are quietly confident... we will have more successes than failures."
Still, Brisbane will look at spending money on the big names on offer in the market after Hunt's Dragons move was finalised.
There is no shortage of options available with the likes of Mitchell Pearce, Josh Reynolds, Luke Brooks, Mitchell Moses, Chad Townsend and Tyrone Roberts off contract this season.
White backed former captain Corey Parker's recent call that Brisbane must consider getting the cheque book out for a big-name playmaker next year.
"There has been a bit of commentary about marquee players in those key positions so we will look at the market most certainly," White said.
But in a shot in the arm for Nikorima - who recently re-signed for two more years - White said Hunt's replacement may yet "come from within".
"We are a development club. We are always confident that our program will be able to develop the majority of talent that fills our roster," White said.
"So will also look internally (for a Hunt replacement)."
Meanwhile, White believed the man to replace the retired Parker as captain would be named before Brisbane fly out for the World Club Series in the UK on Thursday.
Brisbane play Warrington on February 18.
Fullback Boyd is considered favourite for the captaincy.
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