THE Broncos are hunting for one more top-line forward after releasing three front-rowers in two weeks and then having prop recruit James Gavet diagnosed with a potentially serious shoulder injury.

The Broncos have lost 450kg of front-row muscle in the past fortnight as they make space in their salary cap to ensure they can upgrade their emerging stars and make a splash in the 2016 player pool.

BRONCOS RELEASE DAVE HALA AND MARTIN KENNEDY

TRANSFER CENTRE: PLAYER MOVEMENTS 2015

Ben Hannant, Martin Kennedy and Dave Hala have all been released while Gavet had scans on Wednesday on a pre-existing shoulder injury to see if a reconstruction is needed.

media_camera Broncos recruit James Gavet is suffering from a shoulder injury. Pic Brett Costello

The Broncos are awaiting the final result of Gavet's shoulder scans, but if it is worst-case scenario and a reconstruction is required he will be sidelined for up to five months and likely to miss the season’s opening rounds.

The Broncos knew Gavet had shoulder issues when they signed him on a bargain-basement two-year deal from the Wests Tigers last month but a reconstruction would be a bitter blow to Wayne Bennett’s rebuilding plans.

The Broncos now have one top-25 roster place to fill but will have two if Josh Hoffman secures a deal at a rival club, likely the Gold Coast or Canberra.

media_camera Props Dave Hala and Ben Hannant have been released by the Broncos. Pic Jono Searle.

The departure of Hannant and Kennedy in particular has eased cap concerns at the Broncos, clearing a mess left by the previous football administration that had two front-rowers among the club’s highest paid.

The squad starts training under new coach Bennett on Wednesday.

Hannant has signed with North Queensland while, as revealed in The Courier-Mail, Kennedy has signed with the Sydney Roosters and Hala has signed with the Gold Coast Titans.

St George Illawarra utility forward Trent Merrin looms as a potential answer to the Broncos front-row crisis.

The Broncos have had informal talks with Merrin while the Dragons’ salary cap struggles saw them release backrower Bronson Harrison on Wednesday.

media_camera Bronson Harrison has been released by the Dragons and could be a good fit at the Broncos.

Harrison could be the ideal fit for the Broncos as Corey Parker moves to the front-row permanently next year.

Former Broncos captain Wally Lewis said Bennett must have a master plan otherwise he would have kept at least one of the three released props.

“When you first think about it you think it is concerning but the Broncos are the type of club that would not have done this without having a long-term plan,” Lewis said.

“They know what they are doing and have obviously made some tough decisions.

“I remember first seeing Marty near a golf course when he was doing his first training session for the Broncos and the way he spoke made me confident he would find success up here.

media_camera Martin Kennedy has also been released from the Broncos. Photo Steve Pohlner

“I hope he kicks on because he’s a good person.”

The Broncos are confident in their front-row stocks, which is why they were happy to release Kennedy and Hala.

The Broncos have two of the best young props in Australia in Frank Molo and Joe Ofahengaue.

Their front-row rotation next year will be Josh McGuire, Parker, Mitch Garbutt, Mitchell Dodds, Jarrod Wallace, Molo, Ofahengaue and Gavet.