Another day, another story circulated about Titan's marquee man David Fifita potentially moving away from the club.
Wayne Bennett has reportedly "confirmed interest" in one of the game's most damaging forwards.
Hardly a surprise given what Fifita can do on his day.
It seems as though Fifita has constantly been linked with a move away from the club ever since the day he signed his mega-money Titans deal.
Moved into the centres recently before being relegated to the bench, Fifita's impact has be inconsistent all season.
Perhaps this is a chance for the Titans to accept an "out" and move Fifita's reported eye-watering salary off their books to re-invest into problem areas?
Whether or not the Titans should jump at the chance or fight tooth and nail to keep their star, albeit underperforming, asset is a matter for another day.
Assuming that Wayne Bennett and the Dolphins do manage to lure Fifita up the coast, the Titans would need to move on... and quickly.
How do you replace a player who was brought to the club to lead the new era? A player who, on his day, can bust 15 tackles and score a try that few other players in the game can replicate?
Easily enough, funnily.
Here is how I can see the Titans not only covering the loss of Fifita but using the potential move as a positive moving forward.
Cameron Munster is off-contract at the end of 2023. So are Selwyn Cobbo, Jesse Ramien, Justin Olam and a host of other name star players.
David Fifita is currently on $1.1 million (reportedly). It would take something similar, or perhaps even more, to tie down their strike weapon.
That $1.1 million puts them in the hunt for Munster, a player who could completely change the outlook of the club right away.
Or it means they can lodge a serious run at Ramien and Olam, forming one of the game's most lethal combinations, with money to spare.
Yes, they lose Fifita but you offer me Munster for Fifita and I take that switch every day of the week.
I hear the screams. How do you replace Fifita though if you spend all the money allocated to him?
Simple; don't spend $1.1 million on a player when you can attract similar output for far less.
They don't have the match-winning potential of Fifita but Teig Wilton, Liam Martin and Shaun Lane are all off-contract.
Again, you offer me Olam and Liam Martin with an extra 100k left over to upgrade someone else, or Fifita... This is a club that needs an overhaul. The answer seems obvious.
This is a big risk, and not something I would back personally, but would the Titans be willing to let Fifita go in 2023 with an early release?
They offer up their biggest name player to their new rivals in order to bring forward the needed rebuild. Fans won't like it but sometimes ripping off the band-aid works.
Releasing Fifita without a replacement lined up would be risky, at best, and could be catastrophic.
It's an option though.
Adam Elliott has unlimited potential but is easily distracted. I don't think that is unfair to suggest. The talent though, it's there.
Briton Nikora shows signs of exploding into the next level. It's only once every three to four weeks but it is there. Move him out of where is comfortable and perhaps you have the key to making Nikora a genuine star?
Ryan Matterson should have Origin jumpers in his past and future. For whatever reason he hasn't reached the level expected.
You back Matterson, who you could absolutely grab for less than half of what Fifita is currently on, and he could match Fifita's output.
Risky. Very risky! Value-wise though, I don't hate it.
Contracts mean less and less with every given year. That's just the cold hard truth.
The Titans, if they don't sign Fifita to a contract extension, would be flush with cash. The high rollers.
What's to say they can't just replace Fifita with Angus Crichton?
The Dogs salary cap is reportedly busting at the seams. Viliame Kikau comes in and Tevita Pangai Junior, again on his day, is probably the closest potential replacement for Fififta.
If the Dogs were looking to offload their big money asset then the Titans have more than the money to pay full freight. I'm not sure many other clubs could match that.
A like for like replacement shapes as the most natural action although it likely lands the Titans right back in the same situation; with a big money second rower who is commanding cap that could probably be better spent elsewhere.
Angus Crichton is the only player I can name who can justify anywhere near that million dollar figure as a second rower. For the record, I would top out at the mid 7's but sometimes you need to overpay to get the deal done.
My guess is that the Titans would rather not lose Fifita and will play every card to fight off the advances of the Dolphins, but there are options.
It's certainly not the end of the world and I would argue that there are positives despite the looming, potential darkness.