The Gold Coast added NSW prop Luke Bailey to its fledgling NRL roster as the North Queensland Cowboys gave their 2005 finals hopes a boost with the signing of Sydney Roosters halfback Brett Firman.

The addition of St George Illawarra front rower Bailey follows last week's signing of Penrith five-eighth Preston Campbell as the Gold Coast's first two players for its inaugural season in 2007.

Bailey will continue to play for the Dragons until the end of 2006 before heading to the Coast on a four-year deal.

"I think that having a guy like Luke Bailey in the forward pack is going to send a clear message to what we're all about," Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle said.

Bailey cited a desire to be part of a new franchise and the club's coaching staff - headed by John Cartwright - as some of the reasons behind his decision.

"I've got family up there and I've been with the (Illawarra) Steelers and Dragons for over 10 years so I thought it would be a good challenge," Bailey said.

"The players we've got coming through (at the Dragons) we've got a lot of front rowers, back rowers, and their going to start demanding the big dollars soon.

"So I thought if I got a good contract this time (with the Dragons), I might be squeezed out next time so I thought it was beneficial for me (to go to the Gold Coast)."

Firman, a former teammate of Bailey's at the Dragons, joined North Queensland for the rest of this season and the next two years in a move he hopes will reinvigorate his career.

The injury-plagued halfback burst onto the scene with a sensational rookie season with St George Illawarra in 2003, before injury and the emergence of Mathew Head ruined his 2004 campaign.

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