McQueen’s absence a royal pain in the neck
CHRIS McQueen’s Titans career is officially over with the former Origin back-rower to have surgery today.
McQueen will go under the knife to correct nerve damage in his neck, scuppering any prospect of the veteran forward being part of the Titans’ playoffs push.
However, the Gold Coast has received a boost with emerging forward Morgan Boyle signing a three-year contract extension.
Titans coach Neil Henry was hoping his premiershipwinning forward would be back within the next fortnight.
With the 30-year-old joining Wests Tigers next season on a three-year deal, McQueen has played his final game for a Titans club he represented 38 times since his arrival at the start of 2016.
McQueen is facing a fourmonth stint on the sidelines – also ruling him out of England’s World Cup campaign, which starts in October.
It is understood McQueen has a similar neck injury to that which threatened the career of Kyle Turner, his former Souths teammate.
Turner has since made a return and McQueen may be required to wear a Brent Tatestyle brace next season.
McQueen’s injury has robbed him of a showdown against his future club at Cbus Super Stadium on Sunday.
And it has also put a dent in the Gold Coast’s flickering finals hopes with the Titans facing a near impossible task to make back-to-back play-offs.
While McQueen’s injury and pending defection to Wests is a blow to the Titans, the retention of Boyle is a crucial signing for the club.
Boyle, who has played 10 matches in his rookie season, was being courted by the Tigers, however he has inked a new deal with the Titans which will be confirmed within days. The 110kg Boyle will come off the bench against the Tigers.