But a desire to prove he still has the Midas touch convinced long-time Canberra Raiders development officer David Hamilton to finally accept the Gold Coast Titans' constant overtures.

Hamilton, widely regarded as one of the NRL's best talent spotters, will link with former Raiders head coach Neil Henry on the glitter strip.

Desperate to rebuild the struggling club and keep their young talent, Henry tried to lure Hamilton north at the end of last season, and eventually got his man.

"I know what's there and I know how tough it's going to be, I want to know if I'm able to do it again," Hamilton said. "It's nothing against the club [Raiders], I love the joint and it's more of a personal thing.

"We're on the way up here and I'm walking away with the most exciting time coming up. I can't see us doing anything but shaking the hell out of the top four next year, or the year after.

"Ricky [Stuart, coach] and Don [Furner, CEO] are hunting a premiership and when you're that focused I think it will happen.

"I also wanted to help a mate [Henry] out, he was coaching the Raiders 18s when I was coaching the 16s and we developed respect from there."

Hamilton's departure means the Raiders' most prevalent recruitment officers in recent times have been poached by Queensland clubs.

Brian Edwards helped spot Papalii, Milford and Edrick Lee in Queensland, but jumped ship to Brisbane Broncos at the end of 2013.

"When I told them [Raiders] they were obviously disappointed. I'm a Raiders person and I love the joint but it's a profession now," Hamilton said.

"You've got to learn to leave a pathway and not overstock. If we wanted we could bring in a team which could win a twenties premiership every year. But it's quality over quantity and that's always been our approach."

Hamilton's eye for finding a diamond in the rough has been a major reason why Canberra is regarded as one of the leaders in junior development.

Edwards and Hamilton spotted winger Lee - a shadow player for Queensland in this year's State of Origin decider - playing second division football as a 17-year-old in Brisbane.

Jack Wighton was a scrawny kid Hamilton signed on the spot after seeing him set up a try and score another playing halfback as a 15-year-old.

"I said, 'you're not getting away from me,' and I straight away we went and signed him," Hamilton said.

Then there's the time he needed to watch just five minutes of Papalii and Shannon Boyd going toe-to-toe against each other in a Souths-Logan opposed session to know they had the goods.

"They nearly killed each other the first half, they wanted to take each other out," he said. "I said to them both, 'you're not playing any more, we've seen what we need to see'.

"I'm really proud of big Boydy, everyone was saying why are you picking him for, because he was overweight, but I thought he's got something, that kid.

"We get it wrong sometimes, some kids aren't up to it or lose the plot, but the majority of the time we do OK."