Once considered favourites to sign Latrell Mitchell, Wests Tigers have surprisingly withdrawn their offer to the NRL star.
Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe told News Corp Australia they had told the Sydney Roosters ace's management on Thursday morning they would pursue other players, with Melbourne's Josh Addo-Carr now linked to the joint venture.
Tigers appeared to be front runners in the race for test centre Mitchell's signature after reportedly offering a four-year, AU$3.8 million deal to play fullback.
But Pascoe said they had become frustrated by ongoing delays in talks with Mitchell who has courted other clubs, recently visiting North Queensland officials in Townsville.
"We have informed Latrell's manager that today we have withdrawn our offer," Pascoe told News Corp Australia.
"Our first responsibility is to our club and we can't be inactive in a market like the NRL player market and afford to sit around and wait."
Pascoe did not rule out re-opening talks with Mitchell but said they would now focus on other targets with Storm flyer Addo-Carr reportedly in their sights.
"We have no ill-feeling towards Latrell or his management and if they still would like to talk in the future we would welcome that," he said.
"We will continue to pursue the talent that is out there in order to complement our already talented squad."
The Tigers began talks with Mitchell two weeks ago but had become "exasperated" as they sweated on clarity from the NRL star.
It is believed the Tigers had hoped for a decision from Mitchell this week before it emerged Gold Coast Titans had entered the pursuit for the 22-year-old.
NRL.com said the Tigers had now shifted their focus to Addo-Carr, reportedly contacting his management about a possible return to the club on Thursday.
Addo-Carr played nine games in his debut 2016 NRL season with the Tigers before heading to Melbourne.
Remarkably, the Titans - once considered unlikely contenders for Mitchell - now appear the favourites.
Gold Coast head of culture and performance Mal Meninga this week said he had already spoken to Mitchell and claimed the gamebreaker was keen for talks.
Meninga told News Corp Australia that he could offer guidance to Mitchell and help him reach his full potential "as a player and an indigenous leader".
North Queensland appeared in the mix after coach Paul Green left the door open to sign Mitchell even after snaring Valentine Holmes on a lucrative six-year deal on Sunday.
But Cowboys football boss Peter Parr all but hosed down their chances on Wednesday, saying it would be "difficult" to offload several players and present a competitive offer for the star.
AAP
