QUEENSLAND Origin forward Chris McQueen is on the Titans’ radar as the club prepares to open a $2.5 million war chest following the signing of Daly Cherry-Evans.

The Sunday Mail can reveal the cashed-up Titans are ready to ride the momentum of their Cherry-Evans coup by targeting more big names to support the Maroons playmaker.

Representatives for three NRL players, including an off-contract Broncos star, have contacted Titans hierarchy in the past week as speculation intensified Cherry-Evans would join the Gold Coast.

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That is the magnetic appeal of the Test playmaker, who will be given input on who the Titans hire and fire as coach Neil Henry builds a squad to lift the club out of the premiership cellar.

“I would like to think him signing would galvanise thoughts about the club and also possibly make the club an attractive place to come in the future,” Henry said.

“Good players attract other players. JT (Thurston) is the same, people want to play with those sorts of players.

“He has been part of a very successful, hard working club for a number of years through his whole NRL career.

“Manly have been regular finals appearances, grand finals and winning premierships. He has been part of that. He is coming from a winning organisation and winning culture and that is something you need among your players.

“You need players who know what it takes to be successful on a daily basis.

“Working towards that goal of being consistent and being successful. It’s not just about saying we want to win a competition there is a lot of work that goes into that and having that right character mixed with talent is imperative to the future of the club.”

While the Titans outlaid $1m annually to secure Cherry-Evans, the Coast still has major financial scope under the salary cap to be one of the most aggressive clubs on the open market.

The Titans have 18 players off-contract at season’s end, including skipper Nate Myles. And the club may have more cash to spend if Origin duo Greg Bird and Dave Taylor fail to convince the Titans board they have a future as they fight cocaine-supply charges.

media_camera Titans confirmed the signing of Daly Cherry Evans on Friday

McQueen is one representative player being closely monitored. The 27-year-old won a premiership at Souths last season but will become increasingly concerned if he cannot break into the starting side following the departure of Sam Burgess and Ben Te’o.

Off-contract in 2016, McQueen played just 27 minutes against the Broncos last Thursday night and is in danger of losing his Queensland jumper if he remains a bit-part bench player.

The Maroons utility was close to quitting the Rabbitohs last season as the club dithered over his request for a pay rise following his elevation to the Origin ranks.

The Titans remain in the hunt for Roosters prop Dylan Napa, but the red-haired hitman enjoys being coached by Trent Robinson and is tipped to stay at Bondi.

The Titans’ recruitment arm are mindful they need more class to help Cherry-Evans and Broncos great Darren Lockyer said the club is now infinitely more attractive to off-contract NRL stars.

“This will have an immediate and positive impact on their recruitment,” he said.

“Other players on the market will see someone of the quality of ‘DCE’ coming to the Titans and they will start to consider the club too because Daly is someone you can build a team around.

“It’s a really important signing for the Titans and maybe they can build some momentum in recruitment off the back of getting him.”