However, injuries and disciplinary problems have limited him to just 16 NRL appearances and the latest dramas threatened to prematurely end a promising career.

Writing for Fairfax Media during the week, Panthers supremo Phil Gould said: "The decision this week to release this young man from the Panthers was one of the most difficult I have faced in my 38 seasons in professional football. I agonised over this one for months."

However, the Titans are preparing to take a punt on the 21-year-old and are expected to confirm his signing this week.

"I'd be lying if I said we weren't [interested],'' Titans boss Graeme Annesley said. "There are some discussions going on. There's been no pen on paper and we're obviously working with the NRL on that one.

"He's not the first one to be in that position. In fact our club has a history of being able to turn around some players who have had their share of controversy in the past.