Panthers coach Anthony Griffin wants to sign Chris McQueen

ANTHONY Griffin is set to make his first recruiting mark on Penrith, with the former Broncos coach targeting Queensland Origin utility Chris McQueen.

Rabbitohs training

ANTHONY Griffin is set to make his first recruiting mark on Penrith, with the former Broncos coach targeting Queensland Origin utility Chris McQueen.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Griffin has held secret talks with South Sydney forward McQueen as he looks to add a versatile edge to the Panthers’ back row.

The Titans were front-runners to secure McQueen, but a lowly contract offer of $150,000 last week saw talks break down — putting Penrith in the box seat to snare the 28-year-old.

Griffin has extensive knowledge of Queensland’s league nursery. He coached Intrust Super Cup side Redcliffe prior to joining the Broncos and rates McQueen from his days as a match-winning utility for Wynnum Manly.

It is understood Griffin has already met with McQueen and is keen to lure the premiership-winning forward to the foot of the mountains with a two-year deal.

But Griffin’s hopes of snaring the veteran of six Origin games hinges on the Rabbitohs agreeing to subsidise McQueen’s move to Penrith next season.

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Penrith Panthers training at Pepper Stadium, Penrith.Coach Anthony Griffin

Souths have told McQueen he is unwanted for 2017, but the Panthers are hoping the Rabbitohs, who are clearing the decks for Sam Burgess, will partly fund an immediate transfer.

Penrith executive general manager Phil Gould confirmed McQueen is on Griffin’s radar.

“No deal has been done,” Gould said. “We are talking to several players. Chris is one of them ... (but) no money has been discussed.”

Meanwhile, premiers North Queensland have passed up the opportunity to launch the 2016 premiership kick-off under the new NRL draw, set to be released today.

It is understood the Cowboys will begin their premiership defence against the Sharks on a Saturday night. It will be a replay of last season’s finals massacre, when the Cowboys ended Cronulla’s season with a 39-0 rout in Townsville.

The NRL were happy for the Cowboys to open the season as premiers on Thursday night, but North Queensland expressed concerns about their travelling fans missing the game on a weekday.

Cowboys football operations chief Peter Parr said last week the club prefers the Saturday night timeslot.

“A 6pm game on any weekday is a struggle for us,” he said.

“Over 30 per cent of our crowd travel more than an hour to get to a Cowboys game. Saturday nights work best for us given our geographic challenges.”