Titans coach Neil Henry facing player revolt over Jarryd Hayne affair
THE Titans’ crisis has intensified with young halves Ash Taylor and Kane Elgey ready to quit unless coach Neil Henry is sacked over the Jarryd Hayne affair.
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THE Titans’ crisis has intensified with the club’s best young halves, Ash Taylor and Kane Elgey, ready to quit unless coach Neil Henry is sacked over the Jarryd Hayne affair.
The development comes as former Queensland star Chris Walker, a foundation Titan, warned losing Taylor would be as damaging as Johnathan Thurston quitting Canterbury to join the Cowboys 12 years ago.
The Courier-Mail can reveal senior recruitment officers at rival NRL clubs have been advised Taylor and Elgey will not sign new contracts with the Titans as long as Henry remains in charge.
It is damning evidence that player disenchantment in Henry goes beyond Hayne — and threatens to cost the Titans the two playmakers being groomed to spearhead the Coast for the next decade.
HENRY: There is no feud with Hayne
TURMOIL: Hayne next out the door
The Titans board are aware of the growing player dissatisfaction with Henry.
Chief executive Graham Annesley alluded to the tensions on Monday when he said: “It’s broader than what might appear on the surface in relation to Jarryd and Neil.”
The threat of losing Elgey and Taylor, who is being targeted by the Broncos, represents the final straw for a Titans board that views terminating Henry as a real option to harmonise the playing group.
It can also be revealed a number of players, interviewed by Titans bosses in recent weeks, backed Hayne over Henry, denying the NSW Origin star is a toxic influence.
One player told Titans hierarchy Hayne could be a premiership-winning force if the coaching staff could extract the best of him.
Former Australian Schoolboys sensation Elgey and Taylor are both off-contract next season and Broncos coach Wayne Bennett is ready to strike if the latter walks out on the Titans over the Henry saga.
The Titans board have been notified of Taylor and Elgey’s grievances. Annesley vowed to do everything possible to ensure Taylor pledges his long-term future to the Titans.
“Negotiations with players and their managers are private and confidential,” he said.
“But we will do everything we can within the constraints of our budget and salary cap to retain our key players.
“In relation to Ash, we see him as an important part of the club’s future and nothing has changed our position on that, but ultimately, Ash is the only one who can make the decision.”
Henry spoke for the first time about allegations several Titans players — not Hayne solely — have problems with his coaching style.
“I can’t comment on that,” he said. “He (Annesley) said that and he has garnished some information, time will tell about that.
“That will be part of what the board deliberates on.
“You can’t expect your whole squad will buy into what you do. Every week, you only pick 17 out of a squad of 32 or 33 and some players will be unhappy, that’s the nature of the beast in any sport.
“I have been coaching a long time. I know that. I’m a realist, we are in a tough business as coaches and it doesn’t take much for there to be some speculation.
“Hopefully I am here for at least another 12 months.”
Walker, who scored the Titans’ first ever try in 2007, urged Gold Coast hierarchy to do whatever it takes to keep Taylor at the club.
“Ash Taylor looks unhappy to me,” he said.
“If he is considering moving on because of the coach, well there’s only one decision the Titans can make and that’s to part ways with Neil Henry.
“The Bulldogs lost Johnathan Thurston all those years ago and it turned out to be a decision they still regret to this day.
“If Ash Taylor left the Titans over this drama, it would be just as damaging as the Bulldogs losing Thurston.”
Originally published as Titans coach Neil Henry facing player revolt over Jarryd Hayne affair
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