NRL great Corey Parker has urged Des Hasler to cut ties immediately with the Titans, if rumours of his potential retirement turn out to be true.

The 64-year-old has failed to turn Gold Coast around since his arrival at the start of last season, with the side languishing at the bottom of the ladder.

Hasler has another year to go on his contract, but the drums have been beating loudly regarding an early exit given the results during his tenure thus far.

Things have reached a boiling point over the past few weeks, with a heavy loss against the Broncos and their most recent defeat at the hands of a Parramatta outfit missing both Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown placing the blowtorch on Hasler.

Gold Coast Titans players during the round 16 loss against Parramatta

However, the former Manly premiership winner claimed that it was solely "rumour and innuendo" when asked by a journalist after the round 16 loss.

"I don't know if there's speculation that's been reported, but obviously, sitting in last position that we don't want to be in," Hasler said on Sunday night.

While the man himself denied he would bow out from coaching at the end of this year, things can change quickly in rugby league and there's often smoke where there's fire.

Speaking on SENQ Breakfast, Parker said there was "no upside" with keeping Hasler in the head coaching role if he does inevitably plan on stepping down.

Titans coach Des Hasler

"There has been some talk about Des Hasler and that he is potentially going to retire at the end of the season - if that is true, then Dessy needs to go now," he said.

"If he is going to retire, he needs to go now ... only Des and management will know if he is going to go and they bring in someone with the credentials to take over.

"There is no upside if he is going to go."

Hasler has an incredible coaching record dating back to the late-2000s and early-2010s, where he won two premierships in charge of the Sea Eagles.

He also took the Canterbury Bulldogs to grand final appearances in 2012 and 2014, before his tenure at Belmore fizzled out.

A second stint at Manly ended in heartache when Hasler was sacked at the end of 2022, primarily due to the rainbow jersey controversy that split the dressing room, and things haven't gone much better during his time in Queensland.

Should he move on or be pushed out by the Titans, names such as Willie Peters, Josh Hannay and Brad Arthur would likely come into the discussions to replace him.

Willie Peters is edging closer towards an NRL job

Peters in particular has been building an impressive resume, leading Hull KR to the top of the Super League ladder, as well as a recent Challenge Cup final triumph.

Jim Lenihan - who acted as interim coach for the Titans in the months after Justin Holbrook was sacked - remains on the staff under Hasler and could also be a candidate.

Brett White and Michael Monaghan are the other assistant coaches at the club.

Gold Coast will take on the struggling Cowboys in a must-win round 17 clash, before a bye the following weekend.