South Sydney’s hopes of prising Jai Arrow out of the Gold Coast early have been dashed by Ryan James’ latest injury, leaving the Rabbitohs with limited depth up front ahead of their premiership campaign.

And in an intriguing twist, the Titans are trying to lure Souths prop Liam Knight to the glitter strip with a lucrative three-year deal.

The luckless James has suffered a suspected ACL rupture, which would be the third of his career. Given he will turn 29 this year and he just reinjured the knee that ended his 2019 season prematurely, there are fears the setback could be career-ending.

Jai Arrow is unlikely to join Souths in 2020. Credit:NRL Photos

The Rabbitohs had been holding out hope that Titans forward Arrow, who has already signed a four-year deal with them beginning in 2021, would be granted an immediate release. The Pride of the League had even offered up an outside back as part of a player swap in bid to get the deal done.