Gorden Tallis has added his voice to the chorus of former Brisbane greats calling for the Broncos to break the bank to get Cameron Smith in a bid to return the club to the realm of NRL superpower.
Just days after Darren Lockyer said Smith should be the club's No.1 recruitment target, Tallis claimed the Broncos had lost the aura that had made the club an attractive option for recruits.
Since the failed signing of Greg Inglis, the Broncos have failed to fire a shot with their recruitment.
Tallis hit out at the club's inability to land one of the three Queensland playmakers - Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk or Daly Cherry-Evans - all of who have been available in the past 18 months.
The Broncos are languishing in 12th position heading into Friday night's trip to Townsville to face North Queensland, a match which in any other year would be considered a blockbuster.
But with the Cowboys also struggling - with the prospect of no Queensland teams qualifying for the finals growing by the game - the attention has suddenly turned to the two men in the rival coaching boxes.
Tallis said the lack of star power was hurting the Broncos both on the field and with their recruitment, claiming he made the move from St George to the Broncos to play alongside some of the game's greats.
"I wanted to go there and play with Allan Langer, Kevin Walters and Steve Renouf," Tallis told Brisbane's Triple M.
"It's sad to say that other than Sammy Thaiday and Justin Hodges, there's not too many guys there that I would want to go and play with.
"It's simple. I think it has lost a bit of that aura."
Brisbane have been linked with both Ben Barba - who has indicated he may move to Queensland should his ex-partner head there with the separated couple's two children - and Gold Coast AFL star Karmichael Hunt, who began his professional footballing career with the Broncos.
Tallis claimed they would be welcome additions to a talent-starved squad, but like Lockyer, admitted Smith should be the club's top priority.
Smith is under contract with the Storm through to the end of next season, and will be just months shy of his 32nd birthday by the time the 2015 campaign begins.
"Cameron Smith is No.1, without a doubt," Tallis said.
"He is the leader of the NRL, he can turn the side around.
"I think he's probably one of the best leaders to ever play our game.
"Last year there was three halfbacks that went on the market - Thurston, Cronk and Cherry-Evans - well we had to get one of those.
"If Benny Barba's on the market and Karmichael Hunt, I keep on hearing the rumours, but I would love to see those guys come back and play for Brisbane.
"All those kids that are from Queensland, I would love to see them come back and play for the Broncos."
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