Titans set to lose both Farah and Friend

The Gold Coast Titans hunt for a first grade hooker is on again with Wests Tigers rake Robbie Farah expected to decline the offer to move north.

Meanwhile, current Titans hooker Nathan Friend - who has just 2009 to run on his contract - appears ready to go on the open market after rejecting an upgrade and two year deal from the club.

Farah is set to re-sign with the Tigers thsi week, perhaps as early as today.

The Titans were previously unsuccessful in their bid to sign Australian Test hooker and Melbourne captain Cameron Smith. The Gold Coast then switched their attentions to Farah. The bid included a visit to the Titans facilities and a meeting with head coach John Cartwright.

A Leichhardt junior, Farah is understood to have received a lucrative long-term offer to remain at the Tigers.

The Titans have since offered Friend a slightly updated contract but the deadline to finalise the deal passed yesterday.

The Titans now look likely to offer former Brisbane Bronco Ian Lacey a contract for 2010. Rookie Kayne Lawton has also been earmarked as a potential back-up option.