Brisbane have tabled a multi-million dollar, three-year offer to David Fifita as their battle with the Gold Coast for the star second-rower reaches rarefied air.
Channel 7 has reported that the Titans have upped their initial one-year, $1.1 million deal to well over $3 million across three seasons.
Neither club has officially confirmed the contracts tabled to Fifita.
But NRL.com understands that the Broncos are refusing to concede defeat, ramping up their own one-year deal by another two seasons after the 20-year-old indicated he would consider longer-term contracts.
Brisbane concede that they are unable to match the Titans financially, but have still tabled Fifita one of the biggest deals for a forward in the club's history.
Both offers would make Fifita one of the highest-paid forwards in the NRL.
Fifita has been sidelined with a knee injury since round two, with the Broncos suffering six straight defeats in his absence before beating Canterbury a fortnight ago. His contract impasse has dominated the news cycle throughout that period.
Throughout negotiations indications were that Fifita would only consider a 12-month commitment as he looks to sever ties with his current manager Steve Deacon in December.
However the financial security of long-term multimillion dollar offers is hard to ignore by anyone's standards.
Fifita has been torn over his future for some time, recently phoning Anthony Seibold to tell him he was Titans-bound one evening before calling back the next morning having changed his mind.
Broncos captain Pat Carrigan said the drawn-out saga had not been a distraction for the players and that he was hoping that he re-signed with Brisbane.
There is an expectation that Fifita will make his decision as soon as next week.
"I will respect whatever Dave wants to do moving forward," Carrigan said after the 46-8 loss to the Storm.
"I would love to keep him at the Broncs but we have all got a family and our own aspirations and have to look at what is best for them.
"It is not a distraction at all. I can't wait to get him back on the field and hopefully that is here for a couple more years.
"Tonight's performances and other performances have nothing to do with what is going on with Dave and his contract situation.
"I am good mates with Dave and I know what he is about as a person. He is about getting his rehab done. He is hurting at the moment with the results we are dishing up but he is a part of our club."
The lure of the Titans is growing by the week. They have already recruited young forwards Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Herman Ese'ese for next season, and have one of the league's most promising front-rowers in Moeaki Fotuaika.
