SACK HIM OR WE QUIT
EXCLUSIVE THE Titans’ crisis has intensified with the club’s best young halves, Ash Taylor and Kane Elgey, ready to quit unless coach Neil Henry is sacked over the Jarryd Hayne affair.
This comes as former Queensland star Chris Walker, a foundation Titan, warned losing Taylor would be as damaging as Johnathan Thurston quitting Canterbury to join the Cowboys 12 years ago.
News Corp Australia can reveal senior recruitment officers at rival NRL clubs have been advised Taylor and Elgey will not sign new contracts with the Titans as long as Henry remains in charge.
It is damning evidence that player disenchantment in Henry goes beyond Hayne.
The Titans board are aware of the growing player dissatisfaction with Henry.
Chief executive Graham Annesley alluded to the tensions on Monday when he said: “It’s broader than what might appear on the surface in relation to Jarryd and Neil.”
The threat of losing Elgey and Taylor, who is being targeted by the Broncos, represents the final straw for a Titans board that views terminating Henry as an option to harmonise the playing group.
It can also be revealed that players, interviewed by Titans bosses, backed Hayne over Henry, denying the NSW Origin star is a toxic influence.
One player told Titans hierarchy Hayne could be a premiership-winning force if the coaching staff could extract the best of him.
Former Australian Schoolboys sensation Elgey and Taylor are both off-contract next season. Annesley vowed to do everything possible to ensure Taylor pledges his long-term future to the Titans.
“We’ll do everything within our budget and salary cap to retain key players,” he said.
“In relation to Ash, we see him as an important part of the club’s future, but ultimately, Ash is the only one who can make the decision.”
Henry yesterday spoke for the first time about allegations several Titans players – not Hayne solely – have problems with his coaching style.
“You can’t expect your whole squad will buy into what you do. Every week, you only pick 17 out of a squad of 32 or 33 and some players will be unhappy,” he said.
“I’m a realist, we are in a tough business as coaches and it doesn’t take much for there to be some speculation.
“Hopefully I am here for at least another 12 months.”