Scott Prince remains torn between family and club but the withdrawal of North Queensland in the immediate race for his signature has increased the likelihood he will remain at Wests Tigers.

Prince admitted he was "disappointed" the Cowboys had opted not to speak to him at this early part of the season, narrowing his options to Brisbane, Gold Coast and Wests.

The halfback has permission from the Tigers to discuss his future with all the Queensland clubs and will speak to both the Broncos and Titans this week.

Prince believes the time is right to relocate his wife and kids back to Queensland as he has family living in both Brisbane and Townsville.

But with North Queensland no longer an option, the halfback admits it gives the Tigers a better chance of retaining him.

"I think so. The Tigers have always played a big part in my life and have done so the last couple of years and it's a decision I am not taking lightly," he said.

"I think it is disappointing. (The Cowboys) were certainly one club I was looking pretty closely at but obviously they have got some plans in place and really can't make a decision now, especially when a ball has not been kicked off 2006.

"That was their call so I suppose it is one less team I have to think about at this point in time.

"To put a bombshell on them I wish the Tigers could move to Queensland, that would be ideal but it isn't going to happen."

If Prince decides to remain a Tiger beyond 2006, he will be breaking a promise to his wife who wants to go back home.

"She is saying a lot. We have sat down a number of times and discussed the situation we are in," he said.

"We (originally) planned three years would be the number of years down here and then we would move back home.

"It's not about moving away from Sydney it is about moving to my family. I think that is the key here. I have got no-one down here.

"I really do think with a young family you do need your family support around you and that is big influence in what I do.

"It will be hard to get up and leave it all behind ... I have enjoyed my time here but obviously if I want to go home I am going to have to leave Sydney.

"I suppose I have a couple of weeks to really sit down and think about it."

Tigers chief executive Steve Noyce is confident Prince will stay at the club and the situation will be resolved ahead of the NRL season start.

"My personal gut feeling is that he will stay with the Wests Tigers," said Noyce.

"I think everybody is aware that Scott has that consideration of family. How we might work with Scott to manage that will be part of the process when we look to get involved in negotiations."

Prince will personally talk with at least one, if not both Queensland clubs, The Tigers will wait until after the February 28 discussion deadline has passed before entering formal negotiations.

"There is a few questions I want to ask (Broncos and Titans) to get a fair idea what is happening there," said Prince.

"History shows new teams (Titans) in the competition do not set the world on fire but it is a massive challenge if I go that way.

"Broncos would be another big challenge. It would be nice getting them back to win the premiership with them as well.

"Every aspect of every team has pros and cons and that is what I have got to think about.

"At the end of it all one party is going to be unhappy and I don't want to make it a bitter thing."

Adding another spanner to the works, North Queensland coach Graham Murray said if Prince was still available after the June 30 anti-tampering deadline the club would then be in a position to make an offer.

"We are quite happy if June 30 and Scott Prince is still available then there is a spot for him," said Murray.

"But we are not going to go into negotiations yet."

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