Trent Robinson is glad the David Fifita circus is over after the Gold Coast forward backflipped on joining the Sydney Roosters.
Fifita took up his two-year option on Wednesday with the Titans and spurned the Roosters' four-year deal despite having come to terms with the club.
The Roosters withdrew their offer and Fifita was able to backflip due to a cooling off period the NRL has in place.
"I'm glad there was a 10-day cooling off period. I think it is a good thing if someone doesn't want to be there," Roosters coach Robinson said.
"Circumstances come up. I don't know what happened. I don't want them coming down for four years and not wanting to be there either."
Robinson said he hadn't heard from Fifita and did not expect to.
He explained his own reaction on Wednesday morning when the news broke that Fifita wasn't coming.
"It's a funny world sometimes, rugby league," he grinned.
"I woke up about 5.15am that morning from the night before and thought 'Oh well, that's footy and move on'. It was pretty simple. I had a chuckle to myself about the circus that our game is and went back to work."
Robinson said it was "always disappointing" to miss out on a quality target.
"When that happens, you know it wasn't right. It was the better position for us to be in, him not coming," he said.
"I was excited by the challenge (of coaching Fifita) but not any more."
Robinson said he "maybe got a little bit of a feeling" Fifita - who stayed at the Titans mainly for family reasons - had second thoughts.
The Roosters can now move to lock down in-form back-rower Angus Crichton, who said the coach "knows where to find me" after the club chased Fifita.
"We've had a chat about that (comment) and I understand you want guys that are passionate ... and want to play for the club and want to be here. You want that sort of reaction," Robinson said.
"The door is still open (for Crichton). We are still working towards looking down those back-row spots."
Robinson said the club's quest for Fifita would not destabilise his side.
"We are pretty tight in here. We understand the landscape we are in. To be honest, we are really focused on what we are doing at the moment," he said.
"It caused a bit of distraction but it didn't change the path and what we are trying to do."
The Roosters take on competition leaders Cronulla on Saturday when winger Daniel Tupou will play his 250th game for the club and prop Lindsay Collins lines up in his 100th.
