Titans utility Brendan Elliot has not been granted a release by Gold Coast, meaning he won't be permitted to play for English championship club Leigh Centurions for the remainder of this season.
Leigh prematurely announced that the 24-year old would join the club and that he'd been released by the Titans as they look to make a push towards the Super League.
But following injuries to Dale Copley and Tyronne Roberts-Davis, Gold Coast's back stocks are being tested, and coach Garth Brennan declared Elliot would not be let go to England.
“At this stage I don’t think he will be (released),” Brennan told Gold Coast Bulletin.
“Dale Copley has gone for the season and Tyronne Roberts-Davis sustained an injury at Burleigh at training that may see him out for a lengthy period of time,” Brennan said.
“And if that’s the case we just can’t afford to let Brendan go at this point.”
Elliot has played two games for the Titans since crossing from the Knights last year, and has been named on an extended bench for Saturday's clash with his former club.
Brennan said the decision to not release Elliot was due to having the club's best interests at heart.
“At the end of the day, the Titans come first with any decision we make with players, with signing or letting players go, it’s always club first,” he said.
“And at the moment, we’re not in a position where we can let Brendan go at the moment.”
Brennan also revealed that Roberts-Davis' neck injury could see him miss the rest of the season.
“He’s got some significant damage there, nothing structural but some ligament damage — and the neck’s something very serious too, so we won’t be rushing him (back) in any way, shape or form,” Brennan said.
“That was a little bit to do with the situation about Brendan and not letting him go at this point.”