The Inside Mail: Home of all the hottest NRL news and gossip

THE Titans are keeping a close eye on Dane Gagai’s contract situation, Jarryd Hayne is Sydney bound (for physio) and the Broncos’ generational divide. Get all the latest NRL news and gossip in The Inside Mail.

The Courier-Mail league team, from left, Rikki-Lee Arnold, Peter Badel and Travis Meyn.

IF YOU see Jarryd Hayne walking the streets of Sydney in coming days, no, he’s not meeting with rival clubs, the Titans ace is getting medical treatment.

Hayne was keen to play for Fiji in this week’s representative round, but will instead fly south for a hit-and-run session on his ankle with his favourite Sydney physio.

In pre-season, Hayne was fined by the Titans for going to Sydney for treatment without their knowledge, but there are no problems this time in a bye weekend for NRL teams.

Hayne revealed he seriously considered turning out for the Bati, but will use the week to treat an ankle that has left him less than 100 per cent fit.

It was rumoured Hayne was recently seen in Sydney meeting with Bulldogs officials as he weighed up his future at the Titans.

“We (he and Fiji coach Mick Potter) spoke a while back when I was injured and he wanted to see when I would be back,” Hayne said.

“This week will be good for me, to have a mini pre-season and get the legs right. Recovery is the most important thing. I will be doing work with my guys in Sydney and then I will ramp up my fitness.”

TITANS OPTION PLAY

THE Titans are watching Dane Gagai’s contract situation with interest. The Maroons ace is technically off-contract at Newcastle at season’s end, but has an option in his favour for the 2018 season.

Dane Gagai of the Knights is tackled by Jarryd Hayne. Picture: Getty Images

Inside Mailcan reveal that option is worth $600,000, a more than reasonable sum given Gagai’s outstanding form in a battling Knights outfit. But if Gagai chooses to explore the market, the Titans potentially have the funds to make a big-money play.

The club are awaiting an answer from Jarryd Hayne who, like Gagai, has an option in his favour for next season. If Hayne chooses to leave, the Titans will have the salary-cap space to go for Gagai.

BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

WE RECENTLY brought you the story surrounding the confusion around Broncos prop Adam Blair’s age.

Adam Blair. Picture: AAP

Blair’s date of birth is listed as 1986 across multiple sources. The Inside Mail asked Blair (pictured above) and he told us he was born on March 20, 1987, which would make him 30.

All the official NRL sources, including the Broncos website, have Blair born in 1986, making him 31.

BRONCOS CUT LOOSE

WAYNE Bennett copped a lot of heat over Anthony Milford’s decision to not play for Samoa last year, but the Broncos coach has been very accommodating of this weekend’s representative round.

The Broncos will have 15 players featuring for seven teams.

Corey Allan, Jaydn Su’A and Gehamat Shibasaki made the Junior Kangaroos team.

Darius Boyd, Matt Gillett and Sam Thaiday made the Kangaroos side and will face Broncos teammates Jordan Kahu, Adam Blair and Kodi Nikorima for the Kiwis.

Joe Ofahengaue (Tonga) and Korbin Sims (Fiji) will face off while Josh McGuire, Herman Ese’ese and Milford will play for Samoa against Bennett’s England side.

Alex Glenn will play for the Cook Island. If PNG Kumuls captain David Mead and the injured James Roberts (NSW City) were available the Broncos would have had 17 players on rep duties.

GENERATIONAL DIVIDE

THE Broncos of 1997 celebrated the 20th anniversary of their Super League premiership last week.

Coach Wayne Bennett even popped in to say hello, but it is understood several of the “old boys” were disappointed that none of the current crop of players came by.

One source told Inside Mail that in their playing days, the group always supported the older generation at similar events.

It is unclear whether the modern players even knew the event was on, but the old boys are hoping to get them more involved in the future.

FLAT DEFENCE

WHICH leading NRL coach was recently seen shopping with his partner at a boutique bedding shop where he forked out $10,000 for a new bed. As the saying goes, happy wife, happy life.

PONGA PULLS OUT

THE Kalyn Ponga representative tug of war will rage for some time.

As revealed by The Courier-Mail , New Zealand have conceded defeat in the battle for Ponga, who seems destined to play for Queensland and Australia.

But Ponga is doing everything possible to buy time before he publicly declares his allegiance.

Kalyn Ponga doesn’t want to play rep footy at a junior level. Picture: Wesley Monts

Junior Kangaroos coach Justin Holbrook said yesterday he wanted to pick Ponga for this week’s clash against the Junior Kiwis, only for Ponga to stand down from selection.

“I’m not sure what his status is, I know Kalyn has been umming and ahing,” Holbrook said.

“He doesn’t want to play rep footy at the junior levels. It’s his decision. Last year, I wanted to pick him and so did the Kiwis, so we had to work out his eligibility. But he said he didn’t want to decide at a junior level.

“I would have liked to pick him this year again but he’s only young and has a lot going on.”

TYRONE’S TAYLOR TIE

TYRONE Roberts could be the secret to keeping Ashley Taylor at the Gold Coast Titans.

Roberts is on the verge of securing a two-year contract extension at the Titans following a sensational start to the season.

Keeping him on the Gold Coast could go a long way to Taylor staying.

Taylor is contracted until the end of next season, however the Broncos are expected to make a major play to bring him back to Brisbane.

Roberts and Taylor are close. They formed a tight bond while partnering each other in the halves last season and Taylor joined Roberts’ management stable this year.

“I’d love for him to stay here,” Taylor said. “He’s become a brother to me and been good to me ever since he’s been at the club.

“He has played a massive role in helping me over the last two years.

“I’m stoked for him if he gets a contract here.”

BUNDLED INTO TOUCH

BRONCOS back Tom Opacic was absent from Queensland Residents training yesterday, but for good reason.

As the side went through their first session, Opacic – who plays for Brisbane feeder club Redcliffe – was excused for the day as he waited for the birth of his first child. Opacic is expected to play in Sunday’s clash against NSW, which will be his fourth game back from two off-season shoulder reconstructions.

XXXX SPELLS MAROONS

A DOZEN rugby league clubs across the state have been chosen to appear on more than 45 million limited edition XXXX cans and bottles as Queensland starts to get into the Origin spirit.

XXXX limited edition cans for State of Origin.

As part of their 27-year partnership with the Queensland Rugby League and Maroons, XXXX is paying homage to some of the grassroots clubs where many Origin greats started out.

The 12 clubs featured are the Quilpie Magpies, University Saints – JCU, Eastern Suburbs Magpies, Emu Park Emus, Noosa Pirates, Souths Mackay Sharks, Logan Brothers, Atherton Roosters, Normanton Stingers, Dalby Diehards, Eidsvold Eagles and Roma Cities Gladiators.

When all 12 are collected they spell the word Queenslander.

COACHING APPS

THE Jillaroos are not forgetting the battered and bruised members of their team this week, with injured star Kezie Apps staying in camp with the Australian side.

Apps broke her leg in the Jillaroos’ Nines win in February and is still recovering. But she has not been left out of the side’s Test preparations, joining the team in Canberra as part of the coaching staff.