THE Queensland Reds will stamp themselves as a genuine Super Rugby threat with the announcement that Scott Higginbotham will to return to Ballymore in 2017.

It took three years for the Reds to replace Higginbotham’s strong running game with that of Hendrik Tui’s after the former Wallaby left for the Melbourne Rebels in 2013, and the team’s attack seriously suffered as a result.

A Tui, George Smith and Higginbotham back row shapes as a line bending force for the Reds, who are expected to announce 13 new signings in the 38 man squad.

Higginbotham, star flyhalf Quade Cooper, Smith, Wallabies captain Stephen Moore, Leroy Houston and former Bronco Lachlan Maranta headline the new recruits.

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Big Scott Higginbotham is back in Red! Source: News Limited

Former Wallabies star centre and Fox Sports commentator Tim Horan said the return of Higginbotham would aid Cooper as he re-established himself as the team’s chief playmaker.

“When the Reds lost Digby (Ioane) and Scott Higginbotham they really lost that punch and go forward that Quade really thrives off the back of,” he said.

“You need to be able to bend the defensive line in Super Rugby and someone like Higgers has shown that he is more than capable of doing that.”

Quade Cooper holds the key to a successful season for the Reds. Source: AFP

With a three-win 2016 season in the rear view mirror, Horan said a finish between fourth and eighth was a realistic goal given the squad’s rapid regeneration.

“This is a huge year for Reds and Queensland rugby on the whole,” he said.

“A top four to eight finish is what they need to be aiming for because the bottom line is – they have to win the fans back.

“There are always going to be those rusted-on fans that are there through everything but guys like Higgers, Quade (Cooper), George Smith and Stephen Moore bring people through the gates.

Horan also drew comparisons between Nick Stiles’ first year as sole head coach to when Ewen McKenzie took the reigns as coach in 2010, a year which marked the birth of Queensland rugby’s last golden era.

The Australian skipper returns home. Source: Getty Images

“If you look at where the squad is with Stiles coming in now, it’s similar to when Ewen took over,’’ Horan said.

“There are some really good kids coming through the squad and now they are primed and ready for Stilesy to come in and reap the rewards.

“If they can get that finish around the four to eight mark they’ll be able to really push on to bigger and better things the following year.”

REDS BEST XV IN 2017

1. James Slipper

2. Stephen Moore

3. Sef Fa’agase

4. Rob Simmons

5. Kane Douglas

6. Hendrik Tui

7. George Smith

8. Scott Higginbotham

9. Nick Frisby

10. Quade Cooper

11. Eto Nabuli

12. Samu Kerevi

13. Campbell Magnay

14. Chris Kuridrani

15. Karmichael Hunt