Happy Hayne’s Titans lifeline
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 Hayne another shot if the Dally M Medal winner fires.
“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 again very quickly.
“If that’s the case … and Jarryd wants to stay on the Coast, then I’d love to keep him.”
Brennan said Hayne could dominate the NRL again in the right environment.
“He’s an exceptional talent, there’s no doubt,” he said.
“I watched Jarryd last season and saw a player that didn’t look like he was enjoying playing his football.
“Whether that was on-field or off-field, I don’t know because I wasn’t part of it.
“I want to get to know Jarryd away from football. I want him to know what I’m like away from footy so we can build that trust between us.”
Hayne trained at Brisbane Grammar School yesterday with his Fiji Bati teammates in preparation for their Rugby League World Cup opener against the USA in Townsville on Saturday.
THE Titans are also on the hunt for a new recruitment manager following the departure of Dave Hamilton.