Gold Coast coach Neil Henry is confident neck surgery will not mean an end to back-rower Chris McQueen's NRL career.
The 30-year-old is due to have surgery on his troublesome neck on Friday.
Joining the Wests Tigers next season on a three-year deal, McQueen played 38 games for the Gold Coast since his arrival for the 2016 season.
While a delicate matter, Henry said McQueen could take solace in the fact other NRL players have had the surgery and played on.
It will mean he misses England's World Cup campaign, as well as the remaining six games of the NRL campaign.
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"It's been difficult for Chris; it got to the stage where he couldn't do full contact with confidence and was going to need surgery," Henry said.
"But there have been a number of players who have had the same sort of surgery and kept playing footy."
Henry said McQueen will complete rehabilitation at the Titans until coming off contract on October 31.
