The urge to yell "I told you so" must be overwhelming for Steve Michaels.

Or even something a bit more colourful.

Jettisoned mid-season by the Broncos, Michaels has been lauded as the "buy of the year" by the Titans while helping the Gold Coast earn a home NRL final.

And Brisbane? History shows the club that lost faith in Michaels missed the NRL finals for the first time since 1991.

But if Michaels is tempted to gloat, he did his best to resist as the Titans prepared for Friday night's finals clash with New Zealand Warriors at Skilled Park.

"I feel for them in a way but in another way I don't care that much because even if I was still up there I wouldn't be in the side anyway," Michaels told AAP.

"It's weird because I am close mates with a fair few of them.

"I lived with (halfback) Peter Wallace. I feel for him because he was playing injured and trying his guts out.

"I gave Izzy (Israel Folau) a ring. I feel sorry for him not going out the way he deserved (before playing AFL).

"They are pretty shattered at the moment obviously - but I have mixed feelings." Michaels, 23, was also diplomatic about his mid-season departure from a club that he had first joined as a 15-year-old.

Losing confidence after an injury-ravaged 2009, Michaels was told about the Broncos' future plans - and he didn't feature much.

"There was no point hanging around," Michaels said.

"It came to a point where I was wasting my time coming to training.

"It wasn't like there was bad blood.

"They just said there would not be much opportunity in the future.

"I had another year left so I would have been playing Queensland Cup footy which was bringing me down.

"But I couldn't be happier here - I am loving it." The Gold Coast native's return has been a hit - but Michaels admitted he thought he had burnt that bridge too.

"They had already tried to get me down here a few times - I just thought that was it, they wouldn't try and chase me again," he said.

"I was at the stage where I didn't know where I was going to play but it (Titans move) all happened in a couple of days.

"My goal was to play one game. To get a couple of games together and keep my spot for the finals...I am pinching myself." In the past, NRL finals and Michaels have not got along.

Despite Michaels making his NRL debut in 2005, injury or poor form has ensured he has played just one finals game - the Broncos' 40-0 loss to Melbourne in 2007.

"It's a game I pretty much want to forget," Michaels laughed.

And the omens are ominous again.

Michaels is recovering from a shoulder complaint suffered in last week's 21-18 win over Wests Tigers.

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