Gold Coast Titans have locked in Jarryd Hayne in biggest NRL deal in history

ABOUT two thirds of the Titan’s home ground- more than 18,200 tickets – has been sold ahead of the Gold Coast team’s clash with the New Zealand Warriors this Sunday in the hours since news broke of Jarryd Hayne’s signing with the Titans today.

The saddest and richest NRL player Jarryd Hayne.

MORE than 18,200 tickets to the Gold Coast Titan’s clash with the New Zealand Warriors this Sunday have sold in the hours since news broke of Jarryd Hayne’s signing with the Titans today.

Titan’s marketing manager Adam Spackman said about “two thirds” of the 27,500 capacity stadium had already sold but there was still an “enormous” amount of tickets left to fill CBUS Super Stadium.

Jarryd Hayne chats with Greg Bird this afternoon. Pic by Richard Gosling

Phone lines at Ticketek were running hot earlier this morning as footy fans rushed to buy tickets for a chance to watch the Hayne Plane take off in what’s tipped to be his first game in a Titan’s jersey.

“Ticketek are our ticket provider and they said they’ve been getting hammered on the phones,” Mr Spackman said.

CBUS Super Stadium is already two-thirds sold ahead of this weekend’s clash.

He urged hard fans who usually buy tickets at the gates of the Robina stadium to book online.

“We’re looking to pack out the whole stadium,” he said.

“Two thirds of the stadium has been filled so far – we want people who usually get tickets at th gates eto get in a few days before so they don’t miss out.”

The current record attendance for a Titan’s home game at Cbus Super Stadium is 27,176 when the local team played the Brisbane Broncos in 2008.

Titans CEO Graham Annesley and Jarryd Hayne. Picture: AAP

A CLEARLY conflicted Jarryd Hayne will debut for the Gold Coast Titans this weekend against the Warriors but — at a press conference today — it was clear his heart remains with Parramatta.

Hayne spoke at length about the difficult decision to turn his back on the Eels during a press conference this morning to announce the Gold Coast Titans had pulled off the biggest signing coup in NRL history.

While Titans fans are celebrating, Hayne appeared to still be struggling with signing the deal that was inked at 10pm last night.

The 28-year-old barely cracked a smile throughout the 28-minute announcement, with his grief at not signing with his childhood club impossible to supress.

“Everyday I would ask my manager what was Parra’s offer and there was nothing on the table and that was disappointing,” he said.

“At the end of the day, the decision has torn me apart.

“It’s devastating.”

Private jets made way for a throng of cameras in the aluminium hangar near Gold Coast Airport, with Hayne at the centre, acting every part the player at the heart of a scandal instead of an unprecedented high point.

He apologised to Parramatta fans for turning his back on the Eels but said without a contract being offered by the beleagured club, he had no choice but to move forward and join the Titans.

“How can you go back when you’ve got no contract on the table?’’ he said.

“It’s hard to try and explain the situation down there but they really do need to try and fix the inside, they need to really get a strong board together and worry about that.

“It wasn’t easy (to sign with the Titans) but at the end of the day I want to play footy this year and the way the board is at Parra and things that have gone on there this year, we couldn’t get stuff done.

“It’s sad and it hurts me just as much as I know it hurts the fans down there.

“It’s tough because there were a few clubs that made an offer straight away but I always wanted to go back to Parra.

“I was waiting for Parra’s offer, I was waiting, I was waiting, I was waiting.

Jarryd Hayne is tackled during the 2013 Rugby League World Cup Final between Australia and New Zealand at Old Trafford in Manchester.

“It got to a point where I said ... are you going to offer me a contract or not, I’ve got all these offers on the table and I haven’t heard anything from you.’’

Hayne only needs a medical clearance to turn out in Sunday’s match against the Warriors at Cbus Super Stadium in a clash crucial to the club’s finals chances this season.

Titans officials have not been put off by the 28-year-old’s passion for his former club, claiming it speaks volumes about his integrity and loyalty

“I know it’s caused him pain to say farewell to Parramatta, he was a junior with them, but to me it’s just a sign of the integrity of the man,’’ Titans chairwoman Rebecca Frizelle said.

“I think he’s always been very clear that Parramatta was his team but it didn’t pan out that way and once he makes a decision he makes a decision.

“Particularly in our private discussions about who he was, it’s wasn’t about dollars and cents, it was the loyalty.

“In his mind, he’s moved forward and he’s looking to the future.’’

Former Parramatta Eels NRL player Jarryd Hayne (right) and Titans CEO Graham Annesley speaks to the media at a press conference on the Gold Coast. Picture: AAP

The Hayne Plane’s arrival was unveiled as the Titans biggest name recruit in a 10.30am press conference near Gold Coast airport today.

The Titans have quietly worked behind the scenes to bring Hayne north for his NRL return, using the money they had set aside from the failed Daly Cherry-Evans deal to make the two-times Dally M winner their priority signing.

Hayne during his stint with the San Francisco 49ers. Picture: Getty

Hayne had walked out on his Parramatta contract in 2013 to pursue an NFL dream in the US, eventually signing and playing with the San Francisco 49ers.

He quit the NFL earlier this year, saying he wanted to pursue a dream to play for Fiji in the rugby sevens at the Rio Olympic Games.

Jarryd Hayne shares his heartbreak over the turmoil at his former club Parramatta.

When Hayne was left out of the Fijian sevens team for Rio, the Titans immediately started making moves to bring the fullback star back to rugby league.

Hayne, a former Test and State of Origin star, is the biggest signing in the club’s 10-season history.

Queensland coach Kevin Walters urged the Titans to go hard for Hayne in a bid to boost their brand.

“They have to have a crack at Hayne for sure,” he said.

When Hayne was left out of the Fijian sevens team for Rio, the Titans immediately started making moves to bring the fullback star back to rugby league. (Picture: Getty

“I wouldn’t go paying $2 million for him but if they can get him there at the right price, he would be a great signing for the Titans.

“Jarryd Hayne would be great in a promotional sense. They are playing some great football with a no-nonsense attitude and a special athlete like Hayne could turn them into a genuine title contender.”

Henry has left his fullback options for next season open. He has given contracted players William Zillman and Josh Hoffman permission to negotiate with rivals and is yet to re-sign current No. 1 David Mead.

Titans CEO Graham Annesley confirmed negotiations with Hayne were ongoing.

“We are still in discussions,” he said. “We’ve just got to go through a process.”