Jarryd Hayne breaks silence on Neil Henry’s sacking as Gold Coast Titans coach
JARRYD Hayne has broken his silence on Titans coach Neil Henry’s sacking, saying there was one moment that took him “over the edge”.
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JARRYD Hayne has fronted the media at Titans training, continuing to deny a feud with axed coach Neil Henry.
Hayne has copped much of the blame for Henry’s sacking, despite Titans boss Graham Annesley saying there were many issues involved in the decision to release the coach.
PEATS HANDED CAPTAINCY, HAYNE RETURNS
“The allegation that me and Neil had a big falling out or a feud is false,” Hayne said.
“We never had a big argument or a verbal argument and I just wanted to straighten that out and get that off my chest instead of my teammates having to answer to it.”
However, Hayne criticised Henry for what he believed was the coach leaking information to News Corp journalist Paul Kent, saying his column on Henry not having wanted Hayne at the club had led to his own comments that he would leave the Titans if he was not wanted.
“Knowing that Paul Kent and Neil have a relationship, I thought that if that comes out from Paul, I’d rather Neil just tell me himself rather than having journalists write it,” Hayne said.
“That’s what’s disappointing from my point of view ... for that to come out in the media rather than coming up to me and talking to me about it.
“And for that (next) week to have no communication with me personally, that was a bit disappointing.
“It wasn’t to the point where I wanted to come in and blow up, I literally said: ‘Look, if that’s the case, then so be it’.
“At the end of the day, he was the coach and it’s always the coach has the right of way.”
Hayne made his own comments to journalists after the Dragons game in Sydney that Annesley admitted this week were the catalyst for meetings that eventually led to Henry’s sacking.
Despite several high-profile players backing Henry in the days before his sacking, Hayne said he had a good relationship with his teammates, who clapped him on to the training field after his interview.
“As far as a teammates, I think I have a good relationship with everyone,” he said.
“Life goes on and I wish Neil all the best.
“I don’t hold grudges. He’s a good guy, unfortunately it didn’t work out for the coach but I wish him all the best.”
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