Trent Hodkinson, James Maloney and Chris Sandow have been sounded out as possible replacements for Daly Cherry-Evans at Gold Coast after the star playmaker reneged on his deal with the Titans to stay at Manly.
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With speculation rife that Cherry-Evans was set to use the soon to be scrapped Round 13 rule to back out of the four year contract he signed in March, Gold Coast officials are understood to have made contact with Hodkinson before Wednesday but have since spoken to representatives of Maloney and Sandow.
The Titans are after a goalkicking halfback or five-eighth to partner rookie Kane Elgy at the scrum base and Hodkinson, Maloney and Sandow all fit the description.
There is speculation that Gold Coast are also interested in boom Canterbury utility Moses Mbye but he is under contract for another year and the Bulldogs would be reluctant to release him.
However, Hodkinson - the NSW halfback - is off contract and despite opening negotiations with Canterbury in February he is yet to reach agreement with the club.
Sandow is also playing for his future at Parramatta, but Sydney Roosters are keen to keep Maloney if they can agree to a deal for the right price.
Fairfax Media reported on Thursday that the Roosters had tabled their final offer to Maloney but the former NSW five-eighth believes it is below market value and is leaning towards a fresh start elsewhere.
Maloney had been linked to Manly after Cherry-Evans and five-eighth Kieran Foran both announced they were leaving but it is unlikely the Sea Eagles can now accommodate him.
After re-signing Cherry-Evans on an eight year, $10 million deal and recruiting Test forward Nate Myles and Parramatta forward Darcy Lussick, it is understood Manly have one more target in their sights but can no longer afford Gold Coast back rower Greg Bird.
Cronulla are also in the market for a big name playmaker and are believed to have expressed interest in Hodkinson, Maloney and Sandow after missing out on Cherry-Evans.
The Sharks are set to announce the return of Chad Townsend from the Warriors on a two-year deal but halfback Jeff Robson has reportedly been told that he won't be offered a new contract.
While there has been interest in former Canberra, Roosters and Sharks playmaker Todd Carney returning to the NRL from French Super League club Catalans, he would need to sign with a club before the NRL would consider registering a contract for him.
It is expected the NRL would want him to undergo a similar process to Blake Ferguson and Russell Packer before they would allow him to return, meaning he may not be allowed to play until 2017.
Meanwhile, NRL players have backed a proposal from the NRL to replace the Round 13 rule with a 10-day cooling off period if they sign with a rival club.
Rugby League Players Association chief executive David Garnsey said the Round 13 rule created unwanted attention and pressure for players and clubs.
"The current rule was introduced, at least in part, to deter rival clubs entering into agreements with players well ahead of the expiry of their contracts and to provide clubs with a fair opportunity to try and retain players who were offered deals by rival clubs," Garnsey said.
"This week we've seen Manly make use of that opportunity and successfully re-sign Daly Cherry-Evans to a contract that provides him with long term job security in a sport where the length of an average playing career is less than three years.
"As is the case with any worker, players make decisions based on what is best for them, their family and their future and we fully support their right to do so," he said.
