Ryan James shuns interest from Brisbane, set to sign $2 million deal with Gold Coast

TITANS forward Ryan James is set to shun interest from the Broncos to sign a new $2 million deal with the Titans.

Gold Coast Titans open training session at Cbus Super Stadium. Ryan James. Photo: Jerad Williams

THE Titans are set to stave off a Broncos poaching raid on Ryan James by tabling a $2 million deal to keep their No. 1 enforcer at the Gold Coast for life.

James broke his silence on his future, revealing his desire to be part of the Titans’ renaissance after enduring the dark times that threatened the club’s survival.

The Titans ramped-up their recruitment drive on Wednesday when they prised Kiwi Test back-rower Kevin Proctor from Melbourne on a big-money four-year deal.

Now they are determined to lock up James, who says he has no plans to quit the Titans if they can match any offer tabled by rival clubs including the Broncos.

James is expected to be the Titans next captain.

Brisbane have expressed interest in James and can now officially table an offer to the prop, who is off-contract at the end of 2017, after the NRL’s new contracting period began on Tuesday.

But The Courier-Mail understands the Titans will win the bidding war. The club will table a three-year extension worth around $650,000-a-season for James, who hopes to ink a Titans upgrade next month after completing his university studies.

“If everything is equal, I will definitely stay at the Titans,” James said.

“It’s my preference to stay here. The Broncos and Titans are an hour away from each other, so Brisbane are the one other club I would talk to when the time comes.

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“The Broncos are a consideration, but the Titans are my first choice.

“I first signed for the Titans in 2008 so next year will be my 10th season with the club. It’s good to see the club finally on the up and I don’t want to leave with something special on the horizon.”

The Titans would face a public-relations disaster if they lost James, a homegrown product and future captain, to the Queensland rival that knocked them out of last season’s finals.

But Titans boss Graham Annesley is confident the club will convince James to resist the persuasive powers of Broncos super coach Wayne Bennett.

The 25-year old is considered a rep player of the future.

“We’ve made it very clear he’s critically important to us and we want to retain him (beyond next season),” he said.

“Ryan wants to stay ... we’ll put together a very attractive package that will give every possible chance of retaining him.”

James lauded the signing of Proctor, who emerged from the same schoolboy nursery at Palm Beach Currumbin High.

“Kevin played with my older brother at PBC and it’s good to reconnect with him,” James said. “He’s a really solid defender and an international player, he’s the type of player every NRL club needs.

“It (his contract talks) won’t be dragging on. I graduate uni in December so when I finish that, I will knuckle down on my contract talks and hopefully sign a new deal with the Titans in the pre-season.”

Originally published as Ryan James shuns interest from Brisbane, set to sign $2 million deal with Gold Coast