NRL 2021: Gold Coast Titans target Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs, Xavier Coates and Brendan Piakura

The Broncos once seemed bulletproof in the face of big-money recruitment raids from NRL rivals. Not any more, and there’s $4 million of talent on the line.

Mal Meninga and the Gold Coast Titans are targeting Kotoni Staggs, Xavier Coates and Brenden Piakura from the Brisbane Broncos.

Mal Meninga is plotting a $4 million recruitment raid on the Broncos with the Titans culture boss holding talks with Brisbane trio Kotoni Staggs, Xavier Coates and Brendan Piakura to join David Fifita at the Gold Coast.

News Corp can reveal the Titans have escalated their interest by summoning Meninga for formal negotiations with the off-contract Broncos trinity in the latest poaching war to break out between the Queensland rivals.

Just nine months ago, Meninga landed a major body blow on the Broncos by stealing Fifita on a $3.5 million deal - and now the NRL Immortal is back again to haunt Brisbane as the Titans go for the jugular.

Mal Meninga has emerged as the Titans’ dealmaker. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

The Broncos once seemed bulletproof in the face of big-money recruitment raids from NRL rivals.

But the departure of Fifita, coupled with Broncos teenager Reece Walsh’s decision to ink a deal worth more than $1 million with the Warriors on Thursday, has left the reigning wooden spooners more vulnerable than ever to losing their off-contract stars.

Now Meninga is flexing his muscle, stepping up negotiations with Staggs, Coates and Gold Coast junior Piakura in his quest to turn the Titans into a premiership force.

The Titans have tabled a three-year deal to Queensland Origin winger Coates worth an estimated $1.7 million, while Piakura, a dynamic ball-running back-rower, has fielded a two-year, $500,000 offer.

Staggs, who has an option in his favour for 2022, has received two offers from Sydney-based clubs worth $800,000-a-season and it’s understood the Titans are prepared to pay the centre strike-weapon around $700,000 annually.

As a collective, Staggs, Coates and Piakura would pocket more than $4 million by joining the Titans, although the Bulldogs remain confident of edging out the Coast and Brisbane for Piakura’s signature.

Xavier Coates scores a spectacular try against the Eels. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Titans coach Justin Holbrook confirmed the club’s interest in snaring the Broncos triumvirate.

“They’re all great players,” Holbrook said.

“I’m happy for the club to be looking at all the good players. That’s all it is at the moment.

“Those players (Staggs, Coates and Piakura) are in this area, that’s why we want them.

“They love being in Queensland and living in a good place.”

The 20-year-old Coates is one of the most sought-after players in the code, having received offers from five clubs - the Broncos, Titans, Cowboys, Melbourne and a Sydney-based outfit.

Craig Bellamy meeting with Xavier Coates on the Gold Coast last December.

Kotoni Staggs competes with Maika Sivo for a bomb.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy held talks with Coates last Christmas, but the Titans have big plans for the Maroons flyer, believing he could shift from the wing to partner Brian Kelly in a potentially lethal centre partnership.

Meninga has shown he is a formidable negotiating force when he has face-to-face talks with off-contract players. The Australian coach pulled off the signings of Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui last year after meeting them personally and few figures in the code possess his Immortal’s aura.

The Titans could have their work cut out poaching Coates, who indicated he was happy at the Broncos in the wake of their 28-16 loss to the Coast on Friday night.

“Being contracted to the Broncos right now means I’m 100 per cent dedicated to the club,” he said.

“I’ve made a decision that, at this point in time, my focus just has to be on football and playing well to earn a new contract.”

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters on Thursday hit out at suggestions Staggs, Coates and off-contract halfback Tom Dearden would walk out on the Broncos to chase big-money deals elsewhere.

Brendan Piakura is seen as a star of the future. Picture: Jerad Williams

“We have plans around maintaining all those players here in the Broncos jersey and at this stage nothing suggests that will not happen from my end,” he said.

“Kotoni has been in our system for a long time now. He is a very loyal kid and I’m sure he can see the turnaround in the small time I’ve been here at the club.

“There’s no concern at all. We have enough space in our cap to make sure our guys are re-signed, not just next year but beyond that.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Gold Coast Titans target Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs, Xavier Coates and Brendan Piakura