Gold Coast have aborted their pursuit of Super League sensation Daryl Clark after being stunned at the salary and terms he was seeking to leave England.
The Titans have baulked at the asking price of Super League sensation Daryl Clark, leaving the Gold Coast to continue their hunt for a new No. 9.
News Corp understands the Titans have aborted their pursuit of Clark for now after being stunned at the salary and terms he was seeking to leave England.
Reports from England this week suggested Clark was Gold Coast-bound in 2021, however that is not the case.
The Titans hoped to lure Melbourne star Brandon Smith to the Gold Coast, however the Storm would not entertain releasing him without a big-name player trade occurring.
The Storm even asked the Titans to release former Melbourne gun Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to facilitate the Smith signing, which the Gold Coast rejected.
The Titans still have an eye on Smith for 2023 and beyond, but he is also being chased hard by Canterbury coach Trent Barrett.
The Smith impasse prompted the Titans to look abroad at Clark, Warrington’s hooker and a former England Test player.
At 28, Clark is an experienced rake with more than 270 games of first grade experience in England.
He was named the Super League’s Man of Steel - equivalent to the NRL’s Dally M Medal - in 2014 before touring Australia for the Four Nations.
The Titans made Clark an offer but were blown away by what he was seeking to head to Australia.
Clark not only wanted top dollar to head to the Gold Coast but was also seeking the security of a three-year deal, which the Titans would not entertain.
Titans figures have not ruled out signing Clark, but he would have to dramatically lower his asking price for the club to entertain a deal.
At this stage, negotiations have hit a stalemate and not progressed.
The Titans have re-signed bench dummy-half Erin Clark for a further two years and starting hooker Mitch Rein is seeking a new contract.
Rein has been one of the Gold Coast‘s better players in 2021 and the club has not ruled out re-signing him.
Broncos hooker Jake Turpin looms as a possible recruitment target for the Titans given he is off-contract at Brisbane this year and the club is courting Canberra’s Josh Hodgson.