Brisbane have given Jack Bird permission to negotiate with other clubs as they prepare to up the ante to find a blue chip half to guide the team in 2020.
As first reported by News Corp on Thursday night, NRL.com has been told that Bird has approached the Broncos to investigate a return to Sydney and will be released if successful.
"It was Jack and his manager who approached us," Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold said in the report.
Bird, who has played just 17 games in two injury-ravaged seasons at the club, is one of the Broncos' highest-paid players and his exit would free up funds to go to the market and strengthen the club's halves stocks.
The Broncos have teenage half Tom Dearden on their books long-term and have said he is a player they will back in the future, but the 18-year-old has played just five NRL games and the club wants an established playmaker to guide him.
After releasing Kiwi half Kodi Nikorima the Broncos experimented with their halves combination this year with Darius Boyd partnering both Sean O'Sullivan and Jake Turpin. The combinations had some success in regard to wins at the back end of the year but the 58-0 loss to the Eels in the elimination semi-final has convinced the Broncos that major spine surgery is required.
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O'Sullivan suffered an ACL injury while playing for Norths Devils in the Intrust Super Cup and will miss the start of next season.
Turpin is set to return to the hooking role in 2020 where it is understood he will start the season ahead of veteran Andrew McCullough.
Boyd, who is on contract for 2020 and with an option for 2021, has told NRL.com he intends to play on next year despite repeated calls for his axing. What position he will play next year is yet to be determined.
Seibold has conducted all his player reviews and will make a presentation to the Broncos board on Friday about the road ahead for the team and the club's roster.