Jarryd Hayne hasn’t asked Gold Coast for a release, says Titans CEO
TITANS chief executive Graham Annesley says the ball is in Jarryd Hayne’s court if the fallen superstar wishes to seek a release from the Gold Coast.
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TITANS chief executive Graham Annesley says the ball is in Jarryd Hayne’s court if the fallen superstar wishes to seek a release from the Gold Coast to continue his NRL career.
News Corporation understands Hayne has instructed his manager Wayne Beavis to investigate other options, with the controversial fullback keen to return to Sydney for family reasons.
Hayne is currently on World Cup duty with Fiji and is set to face Wales this Sunday in Townsville.
The 29-year-old is on $1.2 million next season with the Titans but there has been uncertainty over his future at the Gold Coast for the past three months following tensions with former coach Neil Henry, who was subsequently sacked.
Annesley said Hayne has yet to formally ask for a release and insists it is up to the two-time Dally M winner to inform Titans hierarchy if he wants out.
“We haven’t spoken to Jarryd, he’s been away on duty for Fiji at the World Cup,” he said.
“I don’t know what Jarryd is up to, but at this stage no-one has come to me or anyone at the club asking for a release.
“As far as I’m concerned, he’s a Titans-contracted player.
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“If at some stage Jarryd wants out, it’s up to him to come and ask us, not for us to ask him.
“No-one has asked me for a release, but if he wants out, he needs to come and ask us and he hasn’t done that.”
Asked if the Titans would sign-off on the release, Annesley said: “I don’t know. That’s not a decision I can make right now. I would have to go to the board and there would be a range of processes we have to go through.
“I’m not going to start chasing rabbits down holes. But at this stage, nothing has happened because no-one has asked us for a release.”
It is understood Hayne has no intention of wearing Titans colours again and plans to return to Sydney after the World Cup.
The loss of Hayne would be a blow for incoming coach Garth Brennan, who was confident of getting the best out of the enigmatic attacking whiz.
Just last week, Brennan recruited respected strength-and-conditioning coach Hayden Knowles, who successfully worked with Hayne during is golden years at Parramatta.
Knowles was on $150,000 at the Roosters, but the Titans doubled his salary in an attempt to place a trusted support network around Hayne at the Gold Coast.
Originally published as Jarryd Hayne hasn’t asked Gold Coast for a release, says Titans CEO
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