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Coast Titans hooking maestro Nathan Friend is expected to sign a new contract within two weeks – but it might not be with the Queensland club.
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Titans coach John Cartwright said he wanted Friend to stay, but the player's manager Peter Whitehead said there were "a couple of offers on the table" from rival clubs, which he declined to name.
"Nathan is a player that moves under the radar because he doesn't seek the limelight," Whitehead said. "But a lot of clubs know what he's capable of and would love the opportunity to pick him up.
"You only have to look at the problems the Titans have been having without him for the past four weeks to see what he's worth."
Turning 30 just a month ago, Friend knows this is probably his last deal. He would like at least two years, with an option, and his preference is to stay with Gold Coast, but a move elsewhere in the NRL is also being considered.
"I've got to take the best option for me and my family. And whether it's here I'm not quite sure," said Friend, who got his start with Brisbane Broncos in 2002 before four years with Melbourne Storm.
Friend underwent his second shoulder reconstruction during the off-season and was named yesterday to face North Queensland Cowboys on Friday night. Tuesday he said there were no nerves, just pure excitement, to finally play his first match of the season.
"It's been pretty frustrating," he said. "I've copped a bit of a pounding at training to complete all the (contact) tests that are required to make sure it's stable and good to go. You can never simulate a game of 40-something full-on contacts, but I'm pretty confident."
Cartwright named Riley Brown on a five-man bench as he's unlikely to get 80 minutes out of Friend. "He's been a long time out of the game. He played no trials and has only really been in contact work the last three weeks," Cartwright said. "It wouldn't be fair to mount any pressure on him. But I know his make-up and know what he brings to the team."
Even though Easter is around the corner, Friend does not want to be seen as some kind of Messiah who can heal the Titans' early season troubles. They have been winless after three rounds and with 40 seconds left in their game against Canberra Raiders last weekend were staring down the barrel of another loss, until pulling out a golden-point miracle win.
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Titans coach John Cartwright said he wanted Friend to stay, but the player's manager Peter Whitehead said there were "a couple of offers on the table" from rival clubs, which he declined to name.
"Nathan is a player that moves under the radar because he doesn't seek the limelight," Whitehead said. "But a lot of clubs know what he's capable of and would love the opportunity to pick him up.
"You only have to look at the problems the Titans have been having without him for the past four weeks to see what he's worth."
Turning 30 just a month ago, Friend knows this is probably his last deal. He would like at least two years, with an option, and his preference is to stay with Gold Coast, but a move elsewhere in the NRL is also being considered.
"I've got to take the best option for me and my family. And whether it's here I'm not quite sure," said Friend, who got his start with Brisbane Broncos in 2002 before four years with Melbourne Storm.
Friend underwent his second shoulder reconstruction during the off-season and was named yesterday to face North Queensland Cowboys on Friday night. Tuesday he said there were no nerves, just pure excitement, to finally play his first match of the season.
"It's been pretty frustrating," he said. "I've copped a bit of a pounding at training to complete all the (contact) tests that are required to make sure it's stable and good to go. You can never simulate a game of 40-something full-on contacts, but I'm pretty confident."
Cartwright named Riley Brown on a five-man bench as he's unlikely to get 80 minutes out of Friend. "He's been a long time out of the game. He played no trials and has only really been in contact work the last three weeks," Cartwright said. "It wouldn't be fair to mount any pressure on him. But I know his make-up and know what he brings to the team."
Even though Easter is around the corner, Friend does not want to be seen as some kind of Messiah who can heal the Titans' early season troubles. They have been winless after three rounds and with 40 seconds left in their game against Canberra Raiders last weekend were staring down the barrel of another loss, until pulling out a golden-point miracle win.
