Titans set to release Hayne to the Eels
Jarryd Hayne is reportedly sacrificing about $700,000 in quitting the Gold Coast Titans to join Parramatta.
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JARRYD Hayne's career at the Titans is over after the "shattered” NSW Origin star's formal request for a release to join Parramatta.
Hayne met with former Titans chairwoman Rebecca Frizelle on Wednesday night before holding talks with chief executive Graham Annesley on the Gold Coast yesterday morning.
He is expected to leave the Titans immediately pending a formal release from the club.
The fallen superstar will then sign a deal, worth an estimated $500,000, with Parramatta for next season.
It is understood Hayne is prepared to sacrifice about $700,000 by quitting the club to return to Sydney to be closer to his young daughter.
Titans sponsor Norm Black, who helped fund Hayne's signing last year, said the Fijian World Cup star was shattered to be leaving the club.
"Jarryd is leaving, it's a done deal at Parra,” Black said.
"I don't know what the term is because he can't officially sign with Parra until he is released by the Titans, but I can't see the club standing in his way, on compassionate grounds.
"Jarryd is devastated by all this, he is genuinely rattled.”
Hayne was accused of stringing the Titans along in an attempt to hold on to $180,000 in "holiday pay” by planning to wait until January before telling the club of his intent to walk away - ahead of his return to pre-season training following a break after the Rugby League World Cup.
"The reason he asked for a release is because of the suggestion he would hang around for a few months at the Titans to get $180,000 out of the club,” Black said.
"He said I would never take money under false pretences from the Titans.
"Jarryd would have happily honoured the final year of his deal at the Titans, but his family situation has changed that.
"It was either quit rugby league altogether or go to Sydney and help with his child.
"He is prepared to leave to be close to his child. It's admirable that Jarryd would give up all this cash to be with his daughter.
"Rugby league is a job, but family and personal happiness has to come first.
"That opened his eyes during the World Cup - he really saw that being in camp with the Fijian guys.”
Originally published as Titans set to release Hayne to the Eels