The Gold Coast Titans are resigned to missing out on Ben Te’o despite the departure of Dave Taylor freeing up funds for the club to afford the former Origin enforcer.
Te’o has been linked with an NRL resurrection at the Titans, who are on the lookout for fresh blood as 14 full-time players fight to save their futures.
But The Courier-Mail understands the Titans have given up hope of securing Te’o for next season unless he opts to rescind the final year of his two-year deal with Irish rugby club Leinster.
The Titans were recently contacted by Te’o’s management to gauge their desire to sign the premiership-winning forward.