The Cronulla Sharks are understood to have knocked back an immediate release request for versatile outside back Mawene Hiroti.

The centre and winger has already signed with the Gold Coast Titans on a two-year contract from the start of the 2027 NRL season, having been retained by the Sharks in recent years on a series of single-season deals.

The contract will mark an opportunity for Hiroti to become more than a fill-in player that he has been for much of his tenure at Cronulla, but it could have started even earlier.

News Corp have revealed the Titans recently approached the Sharks in a bid to have him make the move immediately, where he could be in line for NRL minutes throughout 2026.

The move comes as no great shock given Josh Hannay's opinion of the outside back and the Titans' struggles, depth wise, in the outside backs.

The Gold Coast, who picked up their first win of the season, have just a couple of spare players within their Top 30 in the two positions Hiroti can play, and questions have been asked of the group being picked each week by Hannay.

AJ Brimson was recently moved to the centres, while Jaylan De Groot who has been overlooked since Round 1, and Max Feagai now sit outside the 17.

Siale Faeamani, who moved from the Penrith Panthers during the off-season, Jojo Fifita and Phillip Sami are the other three players on the edges, while Tony Francis and another former Shark Jensen Taumoepeau sit outside the 17.

Hiroti meanwhile sits well down the pecking order at Cronulla, with the likelihood that both Michael Gabreal and Chris Vea'ila will see mintues before him if the starting crop of outside backs - Sam Stonestreet, Sione Katoa, Jesse Ramien and KL Iro - run into problems.

But the Sharks are unwilling to test their own depth by letting Hiroti walk a year early to the south east corner of Queensland.

The apparent signing of Phillip Sami for 2027 by the St George Illawarra Dragons will add to the role Hiroti could potentially play on the Glitter Strip next year.

Josh Hannay has spoken positively of Hiroti, labelling him one of the most underrated outside backs in the competition.

He has played just 34 games since his NRL debut in 2018, but has been a consistent performer at reserve grade level.