How losing James Roberts provided the cash for the Titans to land Jarryd Hayne

FIND out how losing James Roberts to the Brisbane Broncos ended up helping the Titans secure Jarryd Hayne.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA — MARCH 07: James Roberts of the Titans celebrates scoring a try during the round one NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Wests Tigers at Cbus Super Stadium on March 7, 2015 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

BRONCOS recruit James Roberts’ stunning walkout on the Gold Coast provided the $300,000 salary-cap buffer that enabled the Titans to secure superstar Jarryd Hayne.

The Titans announced the biggest signing in the club’s 10-season history, landing Hayne on a two-year deal which could see him make his NRL return on Sunday.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the salary-cap machinations that helped the Titans pull off the biggest signing in Gold Coast rugby league’s 28-year history.

Gold Coast powerbrokers sounded out ex-Eels star Hayne just weeks after he walked out on his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers to chase a rugby sevens berth with Fiji in the Olympic Games.

Talks slowly progressed over six weeks before reaching fever pitch on Tuesday when “The Hayne Plane” jetted into the Gold Coast to finalise a $2.4 million deal.

“It wasn’t the easiest decision to make,” Hayne said.

“I waited as long as I could (for former club Parramatta to make an offer). I never thought I’d join another club.

Hayne signed a two-year deal with the Titans.

“The opportunity to come up here and be with such a strong club on and off the field was a key indicator.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be up on the Gold Coast.”

Hayne’s trip to the Titans was the culmination of a number of “sliding doors” moments in the club’s turbulent history.

It started on June 2 last year when Manly star Daly Cherry-Evans reneged on $3.8 million signed contract with the club.

Cherry-Evans’ backflip freed up $950,000-a-season and the Titans went into 2016 with $1.1 million free in their salary cap.

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They then suffered a further ruction when the Roberts contract forgery saga sparked a bitter dispute that saw Broncos coach Wayne Bennett snare the centre ace.

But Roberts’ defection swelled the Titans’ war chest to $1.4 million, funds they have used to secure Konrad Hurrell, Nathan Peats and former NSW Origin fullback Hayne.

“A lot of things have had to align for this to happen,” said Titans coach Neil Henry.

“It’s a sign the club is moving in the right direction.

“The last couple of years have been tough but our current group of players has been performing.

“Jarryd is a boost to our squad.”

The Titans are now a premiership contender.

Hayne, 28, will train with his new teammates for the first time on Thursday and is expected to be rushed into Sunday’s blockbuster clash against the Warriors at Cbus Super Stadium.

The Warriors game could attract the Gold Coast’s first sold-out crowd in six years, such is the hype surrounding Hayne’s return to the NRL since he walked out in 2014.

“I’m excited to join the Titans,” Hayne said.

“They’ve been on the bubble for a couple of years. They’re having a really strong push for the finals.

“I’m excited to join the guys and see what they can do.”

The Titans are sitting seventh on the ladder with five rounds to go and Hayne’s addition yesterday saw punters race to jump on them for the NRL premiership.

The Titans were crunched from $51 into $15 with Ubet to take out this year’s grand final, having started the season as the shortest-priced wooden spoon favourites in history.