A SHATTERED Daniel Conn has revealed he is up for sale as a posse of Titans stars confront the reality their days are numbered on the Gold Coast.
The Titans' impressive surge toward a maiden finals berth has had dire repercussions for those on the selection fringe, with Conn, Brenton Bowen and Ben Jeffery on the lookout for a new home next year.
A fourth top-liner, centre Brett Delaney, will almost certainly return to Sydney next season, while winger Chris Walker is weighing a $200,000-a-season move to the English Super League.
Meanwhile, hooker Ian Lacey remains unsigned for 2010 and is unlikely to win a new deal as the club looks to promote rising star Kane Lawton as Nathan Friend's understudy.
Conn was one of the shining lights of the Titans' 2008 campaign, playing the final five games with a shoulder that required reconstructive surgery after injuries decimated the Coast's roster.
But the Titans' long-term investment in back-row rivals Anthony Laffranchi, Ashley Harrison and Mark Minichiello has left little room under the salary cap for Conn.
The 23-year-old has begun reluctantly sounding out rival NRL clubs in the hope he can resurrect his top-grade career.
"At the moment, I'm struggling to find anywhere, to be honest," Conn said. "I started in first grade last year but I've missed the jump this year and I'm in the shadows a bit.
"They've pretty much got their roster sorted for next year and it doesn't look like I'm in it.
"I'm gutted. The Titans have had to upgrade some other blokes in my position, so I understand it's a difficult position for them.
"I'm just going to have to go somewhere else, but finding a club that can pay me what I'm on now is the hard part."
The bitter pill for Conn is that his brave act to delay surgery last year has directly impacted on his ability to impress this season.
As he continued his rehabilitation on the eve of the 2009 premiership kick-off, Conn had given forward colleagues the inside running.
Now he is trying to sidestep a fate that should not befall a man of his age and talent ? retirement.
"I definitely don't want to retire. I never thought I'd be in this position at the start of the year. I'm determined not to be on the scrapheap," he said.
"I was pretty disappointed when I heard some offers from other clubs. It's around 50 per cent of what I'm on now, so it's a kick in the guts.
"The frustrating thing is I delayed surgery last year to help the club out during its injury crisis.
"If I'd had the surgery straight away, I would have been right for the start of this year and been fully fit.
"I've spoken to a few clubs but it's not easy to find another team when I'm playing Q Cup.
"If the Titans offered me a similar contract (to what he earns now) I'd love to stay, but I've had no signs they are interested in keeping me here."
It is a similar situation for Jeffery and Bowen, who have yet to appear in the NRL this season after playing 19 and five games respectively last season.
Delaney hopes to stay, but the Titans' purchase of Storm sensation Joseph Tomane a fortnight ago has left the foundation centre in limbo.
Titans boss Michael Searle hopes Conn can secure his future elsewhere.
"We think highly of Daniel. At any other club, I think he'd be a starting back-rower, (but) we've got one of the best back-rows in the comp with Harrison, Laffranchi and Minichiello and Brad Meyers off the bench," Searle said.
"Conny is a great fella and he's been good for our club. It's a shame, but he just hasn't had the opportunity this year."
Of the club's backline riches, Searle said: "We have some surplus stock there. Ben Jeffery and Brenton Bowen will unfortunately miss out."