Gold Coast Titans set to build one of NRL’s richest squads on back of Jarryd Hayne exit
JARRYD Hayne’s departure from the Gold Coast Titans could help the struggling club build one of the richest rosters in the NRL.
NRL
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JARRYD Hayne’s departure has gifted the Gold Coast Titans a $1.3 million war chest they can use to exploit an NRL loophole and become a premiership powerhouse.
On Thursday Hayne was released from his contract to return to Sydney and be closer to his 11-month-old daughter, paving the way for the two-time Dally M Medal winner to reunite with Parramatta.
The Courier-Mail can reveal the Titans are considering banking a portion of the $1 million they have freed up by releasing Hayne, combined with money already reserved in the salary cap, to build one of the NRL’s richest squads for 2019.
Under NRL rules, clubs must spend 95 per cent of their salary cap every season.
However, the NRL confirmed clubs were able to pay players in advance for the following year, allowing them to free up funds.
There will need to be some serious off-season player movement for the Titans to land a marquee signing of Hayne’s ilk for 2018.
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Instead, the Titans could get through next season with a low-profile fullback and forward pay players, giving them a bumper salary cap to launch a signing spree for 2019.
“We’re not going to rush out and panic-sign someone to fill Jarryd’s space for the sake of it,” coach Garth Brennan said.
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“We have a lot of money if the right person becomes available to strengthen our squad. If there is a marquee player out there that ticks the boxes we’re looking for then by all means we’re in a position to speak to them.
“It’s about bringing someone in that’s going to strengthen our squad, not just for 2018 but 2019, 2020 and 10 years down the track.
“Any decision I make won’t be about 2018. It will be about 2018 and beyond.”
Hayne’s inglorious Titans career came to an end just 16 months after it started.
It was glaringly clear on August 3 last year that he did not genuinely want to be at the Titans when he was unveiled at Mick Doohan’s hangar at Gold Coast Airport.
The Titans were his fallback after Parramatta could not accommodate his immediate return and the Gold Coast sold their soul to him with a $2.4 million deal which gifted Hayne too much power.
He attracted negative publicity after associating with a bikie on Mad Monday and being the centre of a high school pornography gaffe.
But it was his mostly poor on-field form in 23 games and dramatic falling out with former coach Neil Henry that hurt Hayne’s reputation the most.
“Everyone would have wished it to have worked out a little better on-field,” CEO Graham Annesley said.
“There were a couple of (off-field) incidents he preferred hadn’t taken place.
“We’ve opened up a lot of cap space. It’s a very competitive marketplace and we’ll continue to compete.
“Jarryd was a marquee signing for us, probably the biggest this signing has ever had. It showed we can compete for marquee players.
“Any perception that this club takes the leftovers was blown out of the water by that signing.”
Hayne met with former Titans chairwoman Rebecca Frizelle on Wednesday night to inform her of his decision to leave and told Annesley morning.
Frizelle, currently bidding to buy the club, has no formal ties to the Titans but has held a strong relationship with Hayne since orchestrating his signing in August last year.
Hayne said his decision was based on his desire to live closer to daughter Beliviah, who recently relocated to Sydney with mother Amelia Bonnici.
“My decision to return to Sydney wasn’t taken lightly,” Hayne said.
“After 16 months on the Gold Coast I felt the timing (both from a personal and emotional perspective) was right to head home to Sydney.
“I enjoyed my time at the Titans immensely. There were some challenges but it was always joyful.”
If the Titans are unable to recruit a recognised fullback, Brennan said the likes of English import Dan Sarginson, Knights signing Brendan Elliot and rookies Tyronne Roberts-Davis and Phillip Sami were the leading fullback candidates.
TOP TARGETS 2019: Michael Morgan (Cowboys), Lachlan Coote (Cowboys), Boyd Cordner (Roosters), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors), Curtis Scott (Storm), Will Smith (Eels)
Originally published as Gold Coast Titans set to build one of NRL’s richest squads on back of Jarryd Hayne exit
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