Hayne question put to Titans coach hopefuls
RUGBY LEAGUE PROSPECTIVE Titans coaches were quizzed during interviews on their ability to get the best from Jarryd Hayne in a clear sign of how eager the club is to cash in on its money man.
As Gold Coast confirmed Garth Brennan as coach, the Cairns Post can reveal that applicants were specifically grilled about handling a player long derided for clashing with mentors.
It’s understood a range of other players were also discussed but queries around Hayne remained the million-dollar ones given the fullback’s role in Neil Henry’s demise.
Hayne has a history of working with ultimately doomed mentors, adding a significant layer of complexity to a search the Titans have been desperate to nail down.
While the drama throughout the end of Henry’s tenure ran much deeper than a feud between a player and coach, it was ultimately perceived by fans as a shootout between two dominant personalities.
It’s a $1.2 million per season riddle Gold Coast is desperate to solve, prompting the salient questions put to coaching hopefuls.
While Brennan arrives with renewed hope of keeping Ash Taylor on the Coast, the fourman panel that decided his fate will also entrust him with getting the best from the former Dally M Medallist.
Former police officer Brennan tipped his management skills could help unlock one of the game’s best products.
“We all know Jarryd is an exceptional talent,” he said.
“The first thing is to get to know individual players – Jarryd is one of them.
“There are 29 other players I want to get to know away from football. Once I do that the key for me ... is that I care about my players.
“I’m hoping over the next few years we will see a few more Jarryd Haynes come through the system.”
Titans supremo Graham Annesley said: “We tried everything we could to get the right person and we’re comfortable that we have done that.”