THE Gold Coast Titans and veteran forward Anthony Laffranchi will part ways at the end of the season with the classy back-rower accepting a two-year deal with English Super League giants St Helens.

Laffranchi and the Titans had been in negotiations to extend his current deal, which expires at the end of the season, but after much soul-searching and financial number crunching by both sides, an agreement could not be reached.

The 30-year-old fronted the media at a press conference at the Titans headquarters yesterday where he was accompanied by Titans coach John Cartwright and Gold Coast chief executive officer Michael Searle.

Both Cartwright and Searle made no secret of their admiration of Laffranchi and their disappointment in losing a player who has become an integral part of the club ever since it joined the National Rugby League in 2007.

However, Laffranchi's involvement with the Gold Coast Titans is far from finished.

He could notch up 100 games for the Titans and 200 overall NRL games by the end of the season.

“Anthony has a two-year deal with a year's option with St Helens,” Searle said.

“Once he has completed his playing obligations over there we want him back here in a coaching and development role.”

Cartwright, obviously saddened by losing a player who has given his all to the club both on and off the field, had nothing but praise for the battle-hardened warrior.

“That's how it is in football these days.

"You want to hold on to someone but circumstances such as player rosters and finances mean clubs and players have to make hard decisions,” Cartwright said.

“Anthony has been a very important part of this set-up, not only as a quality player and leader on the field, but as a role model for all of us off it.

“His contributions to this club will never be forgotten.”

Laffranchi is a Murwillumbah Mustangs junior who made his mark in big-time rugby league at Wests Tigers where he won a premiership in 2005.

He linked with the Titans for their debut season in 2007 and has worn the blue and white jersey on 91 occasions.

He is currently on the injured list but is working overtime to get back onto the field.