Elliott’s word of warning

THE coach who once inherited the NRL’s biggest basket case says the Titans must immediately sever the players’ direct access to the board or risk history repeating.

In an ominous warning to the Gold Coast’s hierarchy, veteran mentor Matthew Elliott says empowering the playing group will only result in future bloodletting.

Elliott found out first-hand about the perils of an influential playing group during his 2013-14 tenure at New Zealand Warriors, a club known to engender a poor culture that, resultingly, cycles through coaches.

While stressing he does not know the full story behind the dramas engulfing the Titans, Elliott said the club must ensure there is a clear but not overpowering means of communication.

“Hypothetically if players are having direct access to ownership or board level, it can lead to unhealthy situations, there’s no doubt about it,” he told the Bulletin.

Jarryd Hayne and Neil Henry were called before the board on Monday for emergency meetings following the spotlight shining on their deteriorating relationship, with the result widely reported to be the sacking of the latter.

Such a thought has out- raged fans and sparked concerns that a new coach would be walking into an untenable situation where the players – particularly the star power that is Hayne – rule the roost.

Elliott, who also coached the Raiders and Panthers, however declared the current scenario would not dissuade coaching candidates from showing interest in the Titans.

He said the key would be for the club to set out transparent guidelines to steer the future.

“Obviously what there has to be is an initial understanding of what the standards and protocols that are going to exist in the organisation under the head coach,” Elliott said.

“I’d imagine that the procurement process that the club would go through, that would be made fairly clear, so I don’t think that is going to be an issue for them at all.”

There have been suggestions the likely $400,000 payout heading Henry’s way will leave the club – already on a tight budget – primed to take a punt on a lower-cost, up-andcoming coach.

Maroons and South Sydney assistant Anthony Seibold and Penrith assistant Garth Brennan are among the talented but untested coaches whose names have been tossed up.

Seibold, who has previously spent time working with Melbourne mastermind Craig Bellamy, has plenty going for him, according to Elliott.