Titans tell high-flying Hayne that it’s time to deliver

GOLD Coast wants Jarryd Hayne to reproduce his NSW State of Origin form for the Titans after he committed to the final year of his deal with the NRL club.

The Titans confirmed yesterday that Hayne had opted against moving back to Sydney to invoke the final-year option of his $1.2 million a season deal with the club, ending months of speculation.

The option was set to expire on May 31, but chief executive Graham Annesley said the delay was to give Hayne the best chance to have an undistracted lead-in to the Origin opener on Wednesday.

It worked, as Hayne scored one try and made four tackle breaks in the Blues’ 28-4 win. But now Annesley wants that to be replicated at club level as the 12th-placed Titans attempt to reignite their season.

“Jarryd showed again last night the kind of value he can deliver,” Annesley said. “He’s starting to show some of those touches we know he can deliver. We look forward to him reproducing that for us.” Hayne’s representatives had previously sounded out the possibility of a return to Parramatta, but the Eels stated he was not part of their plans. Hayne himself also admitted through a club statement a return to Sydney had crossed his mind.

But Annesley said he was always confident Hayne would stay, and scoffed at suggestions he had only remained at the club after none of its NRL rivals would meet his hefty price tag.