As good as Josh Hoffman is, Broncos prop Ben Hannant has urged his NRL club to pursue a recruitment drive that may cost their in-form fullback the No.1 jersey.
Kiwi international Hoffman has been the key to Brisbane's late season resurgence, earning man-of-the match honours in last round's 22-12 win over Parramatta that extended their unbeaten run to four games.
The 10th-placed Brisbane are now just one point outside the eight with three rounds left.
"He (Hoffman) has been great. He's such a tough carrier of the ball, he makes great metres, he has no fear," Hannant said.
"That's what you want from a fullback - someone willing to take the line on and will back themselves."
However, Hannant had no problem with the Broncos signing unsettled Bulldogs superstar No.1 Ben Barba next year.
"The more quality players we can get here the better," he said.
"I encourage people who work in our recruitment to continue to get good players at the club and keep building on what we have got."
Barba appears to be a touchy subject for Broncos officials after they surprisingly stopped media interviewing Hoffman following the last round win just as the fullback was asked about the club's links with the Bulldogs star.
But Hannant denied the Barba speculation was a conversation topic with players.
"You hear stuff in the media but we don't talk about it," he said.
"It's not like the coach asks our opinion.
"We are here to do a job and leave that stuff to the recruitment department."
Hannant said Brisbane could not afford to have any distractions as they prepared to keep their finals hopes alive, starting with Friday night's clash at Penrith.
"We know we just have to keep winning. Now it is kill or be killed," he said.
"There are no more second chances.
"Our season could be over in three weeks if we don't perform.
"We can't afford to slacken off."
