Hayne Plane lands second chance with Titans

RUGBY LEAGUE TITANS coach Garth Brennan has issued Jarryd Hayne an NRL lifeline, revealing the Hayne Plane will be offered a contract extension if he can return to top form in 2018.

Hayne will enter next season as the NRL’s most highprofile free agent on the back of a tumultuous year with the Gold Coast.

The 29-year-old was embroiled in a feud with former coach Neil Henry last season as the Titans slumped to second-last on the ladder.

Hayne will chew up $1.2 million of the Gold Coast’s salary cap next year and was widely expected to be shown the door given the controversy and lack of performance he has brought to the Titans. But Brennan is prepared to give him another shot if he fires.

The rookie coach has poached Hayne’s former Parramatta trainer and friend, Hayden Knowles, to join the Titans’ football department.

And Brennan said he was open to extending Hayne’s tenure on the Gold Coast if he burst back to life in 2018.

“He’s still got plenty of good footy ahead of him and is relatively young,” he said.

“At the back end of 2016, everyone on the Gold Coast was saying how good Jarryd Hayne was. He was the best thing the Titans ever did.

“He put bums on seats and they had record crowds.

“The Australian culture loves winners.

“I’ve got no doubt if Jarryd comes out next year and plays anywhere near his potential, they will be loving Jarryd Hayne again very quickly.

“If that’s the case, he’s playing good football and Jarryd wants to stay on the Gold Coast, then I’d love to keep him as long as he wants to be here.”

... IF JARRYD COMES OUT NEXT YEAR AND PLAYS ANYWHERE NEAR HIS POTENTIAL, THEY WILL BE LOVING JARRYD HAYNE AGAIN ...