MONEY KEY TO DECISION TO MOVE ON COACH
IN the end it was as about saving money as much as winning football games.
The Gold Coast Titans are on the verge of sacking embattled coach Neil Henry because it costs only $400,000 to get rid of him.
If it was superstar Jarryd Hayne it would have cost $1.2 million and left the Titans on an $8 million salary cap for 2018.
Thursday night’s match against the Parramatta Eels is likely to be Henry’s last game and his axing will be announced within 48 hours of full-time.
Yesterday’s meeting included fiery exchanges, according to sources. Both Henry and Hayne blamed each other for the predicament.
Titans officials walked out after the talks convinced the relationship was untenable.
Sources on the Gold Coast have revealed Henry’s problems at the club are not just restricted to Hayne. There have been suggestions for some time of conflict and disagreements with other stars, including boom halfback Ash Taylor.
Henry had similar problems in his coaching days in Townsville with Johnathan Thurston. It was one of the major reasons he was axed in North Queensland.
Chief executive Graham Annesley addressed the media yesterday: “It’s broader than what it might appear on the surface in relation to Jarryd and Neil,” Annesley said.
This was another indication of Henry’s conflict with others in the playing group. That if he hadn’t lost the dressing shed, he was close to losing it.
It is understood directors made a decision at a board meeting later in the day that it was Henry who should go.
Because they are due to play on Thursday night against Hayne’s former team Parramatta meant there wasn’t time do anything straight away.
“We don’t want this to drag on,” Annesley told journalists.