Jarryd Hayne move would give Neil Henry, Titans pause for thought

Reports that Jarryd Hayne wants to quit the Gold Coast, after forcing out the coach, have put the club on dangerous turf.

If Jarryd Hayne wants to leave the Titans, former coach Neil Henry has every reason to feel aggrieved.

A penny for Neil Henry’s thoughts. You can only imagine Henry — the former Gold Coast Titans coach who lost a power struggle with Jarryd Hayne — must be seething.

Furious that he is now unemployed and the man who largely contributed to his demise is believed to be on the verge of walking out on the club that chose him over their long-time coach.

Hayne took to social media this afternoon to deny reports that he had instructed his manager to find him a club in Sydney. Where there is smoke, there is usually fire with the cross-code superstar.

The Titans insist they expect him to return for pre-season training once his World Cup commitments are over. They released a statement this morning to that effect, also claiming they were yet to speak to any clubs about releasing Hayne and there had been no application to leave from the player himself or his management.

If a request for a release ends up on the desk of chief executive Graham Annesley, they would be playing with fire if they stood in his way.

Hayne is on a million-dollar deal but he didn’t play like it last season. If he wants out and the Titans blocks his departure, chances are they will have an unhappy player.

And an unhappy Hayne isn’t worth the trouble. Just ask Henry. The issue is further clouded by the fact the Titans find themselves in a bind at a time when they are still in the hands of the NRL.

The three consortia circling the club were asked to put their final bids into the NRL earlier this week. Hayne, for all his issues, gives the club a presence on the Gold Coast.

He remains a big name. Big enough to keep the Titans in the news, be it good or bad. The Gold Coast are a far less valuable commodity with Hayne elsewhere.

The prospective new owners were given the opportunity to have their say on the appointment of coach Garth Brennan as coach. Having settled on that position, they now look likely to take over a club sans their biggest name.

They may want to rewrite the cheques they submitted earlier this week. Hayne has been immediately linked with Parramatta, the club where he made his name and hankered for a return prior to joining the Titans.

The Eels could likely accommodate him. They have room under the salary cap for most but not all of his salary. The Titans may have to chip in, although that could prove a stumbling block given the club have no desire to let him go.

The alternative would be for Hayne to take a pay cut. Good luck there. Finding a position for Hayne is less of a problem for Parramatta given they could comfortably slot him in at fullback.

They had hoped to secure a front rower. The mail was that they were hoping to benefit from the fallout at the Sydney Roosters following the club’s signing of Cooper Cronk. Other clubs appear the most likely to benefit there and Hayne shapes as an alternative, albeit in a different position. If he is to return to the Eels, it is likely to polarise the Parramatta faithful.

Parramatta are on the cusp of big things under coach Brad Arthur. Hayne may be enough to get them over the line. Alternatively, he could prove their downfall.

It’s a fine line where Hayne is concerned.