THE Broncos are confident they will have former Cowboy Shane Tronc stitched up for a return to the NRL by next week.
Tronc, who left North Queensland for the Wakefield Wildcats in the English Super League at the end of last season, has been a stand-out, but struggled to settle into the lifestyle overseas.
Brisbane have been in talks with the giant prop's manager for the past two weeks and confirmed yesterday the Wildcats had granted Tronc a release from the remainder of his two-year contract.
Broncos CEO Bruno Cullen said yesterday he hoped to have a deal finalised by Monday next week.
''Things are a little delicate. Wakefield, like anybody else, are probably a bit disappointed they signed a guy for a couple of years and it's not working out,'' he said.
''But, like every other club - us included - if it's not working out, or he's not happy there or can't settle there, you don't really ever want to force them to stay because you're not going to get anything out of them anyway.''
Despite being unsettled, it hasn't stopped Tronc from picking up where he left off with the Cowboys, where he was squeezed out after six seasons by salary cap restrictions.
After eight rounds of the ESL, the no frills 28-year-old is the No. 1 metre earner among the forwards and third overall behind Australian fullbacks Amos Roberts and Ryan McGoldrick.
While a deal appears as good as done, Tronc is unlikely to play for the Broncos until late this month.
As part of the release, Cullen said it was agreed the 193cm, 113kg wrecking ball would remain in England until after the Wildcats played their Challenge Cup clash against Harlequins on April 17.
''He's a big forward, he's a good yardage man and he might fit well for us this year,'' he said. ''It's no secret we're probably down a front-rower at the moment - we're down a lot of players at the moment, actually. But at the start of the season with the squad we have it's an opportunity for us to pick someone up.''
Tronc will only be signed until the end of 2010, but Cullen did not rule out extending the stay.
''It's a chance for him to put his hand up and say 'hey, don't let me go at the end of this year and keep me for another couple years','' he said.
Tronc joined the Cowboys in 2004 and played 125 first-grade games.
