Canberra winger Nick Cotric said departing prop Shannon Boyd deserves to be sent out on a high note after it was announced he has signed a lucrative four-year-deal with Gold Coast from 2019.
It is the first big name confirmed to leave the Raiders at the end of the season, with a raft of others stars in the process of contract negations.
Cotric said while it was disappointing to lose a player of Boyd's quality, the side would not let the news affect them as they prepare to face St George Illawarra on Sunday.
"It will definitely be a big loss for the club but Boydy is a good fella, so he had to do the right thing for him, but that's footy, I guess," Cotric said.
"The boys will do as much as we can this year, so he can leave on a good note because he's been here a long time at the club so I'm sure he will miss the club as well.
"He's a good player on and off the field and a good bloke."
Cotric's future at the club is secure until 2020, however the teenager said the constant conjecture as to players' future at the club was just part of the professional game.
"We don't really pay attention to it, we don't really know until the player comes around and tells us if they're staying or leaving," he said.
"We just focus on playing for the weekend, that's our job, training and that's about it."
Titans coach Garth Brennan said Boyd was an important signing by the club, having just re-signing Jarrod Wallace to a new four-year deal this week.
Cotric said the Raiders needed to get back to their disciplined brand of football if they were any chance of toppling ladder leaders the Dragons this weekend in Mudgee.
"We have to get the little things right in attack and defence but it's' going to be a good match up there," he said.
"They're a great team we just have to get the little things right and work hard in the middle and in the backs, have fewer errors. It will be a close game.
"They'll come out hard but so we will since we just lost on the weekend."
Injured Raiders five-eighth Blake Austin did complete light rehabilitation on his injured ankle on Wednesday morning in a desperate bid to be fit to play on Sunday.
