Titans quiz players over claims of Henry rift
THE NRL will not stand in the way of the Titans potentially sacking Neil Henry as the Gold Coast club’s hierarchy launched an internal probe into allegations the besieged coach is at loggerheads with players.
Titans chief executive Graham Annesley interviewed 12 Gold Coast stars to discuss Henry’s performance in the wake of the club’s humiliating 54-0 loss to the Broncos.
A cross-section of the Titans’ 25-man full-time roster were summoned to Annesley’s office for informal discussions, including senior players Ryan James, Jarrod Wallace and Jarryd Hayne.
In the one-on-one interviews, held on Monday, the players were asked to appraise Henry and whether there was unrest among the group.
Some players praised Henry’s coaching. Others were critical of his communication style and raised concerns about Henry making what they perceived as unnecessary changes to team lists and game plans.
Annesley refused to discuss the meetings last night, but it understood the Titans boss notified Henry in advance of the player-probe, which casts fresh doubt over his future at the Gold Coast.
The ructions for the Titans continued yesterday with Aquis formally departing as the club’s major sponsor for next season.
But the more pressing concern is easing tensions between several Titans players and Henry, who secured a 12month extension for 2018 after steering the Coast to the finals last season.
Henry was widely believed to be safe for next year given that the NRL owns the Titans and would be reluctant to incur further debt by rubberstamping an estimated $350,000 payout if his contract is terminated.
But the NRL last night said it would not intervene in the club’s day-to-day operations.
“It is up to the club to determine its coach, playing roster and staffing,” the NRL spokesman said.
That places Henry’s fate in the hands of the seven-person Titans board.