Newcastle will turn their attention to luring Kieran Foran with one of the biggest deals in NRL history after missing out on Broncos signing Jack Bird.

The Knights were the favourites for Bird's signature until Brisbane came in with a four-year, $4 million offer. It's understood Bird was poised to commit to the Knights until a large third-party deal came through to sweeten the Broncos deal.

The Sharks utility is the latest recruitment target to slip through Newcastle's grasp following unsuccessful overtures to North Queensland prop Matt Scott, Cronulla front-rower Matt Prior and Melbourne forward Dale Finucane.

Newcastle are armed with a huge war chest which will become larger still when they finalise a termination payment to Jarrod Mullen. Having missed out on Bird, officials will now shift their attention to Foran, who has made a successful comeback for the Warriors.