The 28-year-old also admitted he was upset about the timing of his exit from the Raiders, disappointed he hadn't been given a genuine opportunity to move to another NRL club mid-season in 2012.

Thurling and the Raiders have agreed on a monetary settlement to part ways despite the Queanbeyan junior still having another year to run on his contract in Canberra.

He has agreed to play with the Queanbeyan Blues in the Canberra Raiders Cup next year, unless another professional opportunity arises.

The English Super League club Wakefield Trinity Wildcats has tabled a two-year offer which Thurling will decide on this week, but his family is reluctant to leave Australia.

He reached 100 NRL games this season, but only played four matches because of knee and shoulder injuries.

Thurling was adamant he could still play at the NRL level. There are other examples to take inspiration from, such as Melbourne prop Bryan Norrie who will play in an NRL grand final today two years after being dumped by Cronulla Sharks and taking up a coaching offer in Wagga.

''I'm still willing to give the NRL a crack,'' Thurling said.

''If I could get an opportunity at a club, get there and train, I'd back myself to make an impression. I still think I've got a bit to offer. You just want the opportunity to still play, to fight my way back in.''

Thurling said he held no bad feelings against the Raiders, but he would have liked an opportunity to move to another club prior to the June 30 cut-off this year.

Although the Raiders advised Thurling's manager David Riolo to test the market prior to June 30, Thurling wasn't formally informed until after the mid-year deadline that he wouldn't be required beyond this season.

''I wasn't told formally until after that [June 30], I was a bit upset about that,'' Thurling said.

''I have had a bad run of injuries so I can totally understand where the club's point of view is, they've bought a few new forwards and I guess someone had to go.''

''It takes a while to sink in and it did, I walked around with my head down. It's a big shock thinking things could be over for you.''

The Raiders have signed backrowers Joel Edwards, 24, from Newcastle, and Jake Foster, 23, from the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Thurling also talked to the Queanbeyan Kangaroos, before choosing the Blues.

''I was only ever going to talk to the two Queanbeyan clubs, I was born and bred here and I wouldn't play anywhere else in the local comp,'' he said.