Despite starting him at five-eighth for their two most important games of the season, the Titans have confirmed that Tyrone Peachey is among six departing players.
High-profile playmaker Ash Taylor and veteran hooker Mitch Rein have also finished up at Gold Coast with Jai Whitbread, Sam Stone and Jonus Pearson the others who will not be re-signed.
The writing may have been on the wall for a while, but the versatile Peachey finished the season in solid form and partnered Jamal Fogarty in the halves in Saturday's elimination final loss to the Roosters.
The Titans considered retaining the ex-NSW Origin utility on a reduced deal but evidently an agreement couldn't be reached, bringing an end to his three-season, 63-game stint.
Peachey's departure perhaps opens the door for injured star AJ Brimson to shift to five-eighth in 2022, allowing impressive teenager Jayden Campbell to remain at fullback.
Match Highlights: Roosters v Titans
Taylor, meanwhile, has displayed flashes of brilliance since arriving at the Gold Coast from Brisbane in 2016 but hasn't realised his undoubted potential.
Still only 26 and with 115 games of experience, Taylor has shown enough to suggest he is not done with at the top level.
His last game for the Titans was a 34-20 loss to the Storm in round 23, with Peachey preferred in the halves thereafter.
With the emergence of 20-year-old halfback Toby Sexton alongside captain Fogarty, who recently signed an extension until the end of 2023, Taylor's cards had long been marked.
Rein, 31, has proven a consistent performer for Gold Coast, featuring in 20 matches this season, but is now at a crossroads.
Let's tackle this together
The former Dragons and Panthers rake said in July that he didn't want to retire and "all options are on the table" in regards to his future.
Seventy-one of Rein's 208 first-grade appearances have been in Titans colours after he made the switch from Penrith in 2018.
"The Gold Coast Titans want to thank all six players for their contributions and sacrifices made during their time with the club and wish the players and their families all the best for what comes next," the Titans said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.
