Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says the club will aggressively enter the marketplace for a top quality prop after revealing a one-year extension was the best case scenario they could offer Gold Coast Titans-bound David Shillington.

Shillington announced on Wednesday he will join the Titans on a two-year deal from next season, but the Raiders were deliberating whether to retain him for 2016.

Since returning from a thumb injury, the veteran of eight State of Origins for Queensland and 14 Tests for Australia has been in stellar form for Canberra the past month.

But given Shillington's wife Sonia recently gave birth to their second child, the Titans deal provided stability and the couple have family in Brisbane.

"It [contract] was something we were discussing going forward, if it was going to happen we only had a season available," Stuart said.

"We hadn't offered anything, I spoke to David and I said if something did come up, we only had one year.

"We discussed the situation last week, we've had a long relationship coming from the Roosters, and now at the Raiders.

"I'm happy for David and Sonia and their young family, having that stability in their life for the next two or three years.

"He'll bring a load of professionalism and experience to the Gold Coast."

The decision will only add fuel to rumours the Raiders are clearing up salary cap space to chase a big name forward, given Shillington was one of their highest paid players.

The Raiders have been strongly linked to North Queensland and NSW prop James Tamou, given his partner and children have been spending a lot of time in Canberra with family.

Tamou has rediscovered his best form since being plagued by a neck injury early in the season, and has publicly expressed a keenness to be coached by Stuart.

However, Cowboys coach Paul Green told media before last week's 21-20 win the 26-year-old "is not going anywhere", and "as far as everyone's concerned, Jimmy included, he's happy to stay at North Queensland."

Speculation in recent days has also linked Canberra to Greg Bird possibly joining the club next year, despite being signed to Gold Coast until the end of 2017.

Stuart confirmed he met with Bird over a beer in Melbourne before Origin II, and has a strong friendship with the Gold Coast forward after coaching him at Cronulla, and for NSW and Australia.

Asked if it was merely a friendly meeting, Stuart said: "If I signed up every person I met up with in Melbourne we're going to be well and truly over the cap."

Stuart said they are in the market for a quality replacement for Shillington, but declined to name any potential targets.

Shillington is confident the Titans will be a contender next year despite Daly Cherry-Evans reneging on his rich deal, losing Queensland forward Nate Myles to Manly and five-eighth Aidan Sezer to the Raiders.

"I had other interest from the NRL and Super League but the Titans are an impressive club, the way they've handled a bit of controversy and I think next year will be a good one for them," he said.

"I guess I'm going there to take over Nate Myles' spot and they'll do some more recruiting before the year's out.

"There's no dobut I want to go out with a bang here. I said to the boys when I told them yesterday that I'd love to go out a winner here.

"It'd be nice to have a good crack at finals footy this year and leave on a good note.

"The family support up there will be priceless, obviously I weighed that up in my decision."

Fairfax Media revealed in March Shillington was resigned to finding a new home after he was left out of Canberra's round one team to face Cronulla.

"It was a bit of a speed bumb and a hurdle to get over, but I've made my way back which I'm pleased about," Shillington said.

"Playing the way I am, I don't want to hang up the boots in the near future. A couple of years at the Titans, I'll at least play that and see what happens."

SATURDAY

NRL round 16: New Zealand Warriors v Canberra Raiders at Auckland, 3pm

TV Time: Live on Fox Sports 1