Gold Coast Titans coach John Cartwright has praised Ricky Stuart for his "brave" decision to walk away from NRL opponents the Sharks - but closed the door on a possible reunion on the tourist strip.

Cartwright - who cut his teeth as an assistant coach under Stuart at the Sydney Roosters - dipped his hat to his former mentor on Tuesday.

"I think he's a very unselfish person and I think he has done what he sees is in the best interests of the Sharks," he said on the Gold Coast on Tuesday.

"He obviously felt that he had done everything he could at the place and it was time that they went in their direction and he went in his.

"It's obviously a very brave decision because there aren't many jobs in that position around."

Stuart said he wanted to remain in the NRL but insisted he had nothing lined up after announcing he would quit the battling Cronulla club a year early and leave at the end of the 2010 season.

He has already been linked to Wests Tigers, South Sydney and Parramatta.

But competition will be especially tough for NRL coaching gigs following the recent announcement by Nathan Brown and Michael Potter that they will be returning Down Under next year after successful stints in the UK Super League.

Cartwright clearly enjoyed his time with good friend Stuart at the Roosters.

But he won't be returning the favour and offering a spot on the Titans staff to the ex-Test and NSW mentor any time soon.

"He does love the Gold Coast but there would be too much competition," Cartwright smiled when asked about Stuart's chances of heading for the tourist strip.

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