Thorn touted as Tallis
replacement

Former Broncos powerhouse Brad Thorn is shaping as a ready made replacement for Brisbane skipper Gorden Tallis if the fiery 31-year-old decides to hang up the boots at the end of the NRL season.

Thorn is currently playing rugby union for Canterbury in New Zealand's National Provincial Championships (NPC) but may look at a return to league next season after missing out on All Blacks selection for this year's Tri Nations tournament.

The 29-year-old would be a welcome inclusion back into the Broncos ranks with Tallis likely to call it quits after a spectacular career which has spanned for more than a decade.

Thorn won three premierships with Brisbane during his time at the club as well as featuring in nine league Test matches for Australia and eight State of Origin games for Queensland.

The towering back-rower has won 12 Test caps for New Zealand since switching codes at the end of the 2000 season and may add to that total in November when the the All Blacks embark on a tour of Europe.

Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen said today his club would love to see Thorn back in a Broncos jersey but had not approached him.

"We'll talk to him once his domestic rugby season finishes," Cullen said.

But Cullen said any possible deal with Thorn is still a long way off with Tallis yet to make a decision about his future beyond this season.

"Gordie has said on and off that he might be playing or he might not be playing next year," Cullen said.

"It comes and goes with the (neck) injury and the way he's feeling at the time, but he hasn't said to the club officially that he's not playing next year so I'll have to leave it at that."