Titans start search for new coach to handle Hayne
THE Titans are on the hunt for a new coach who can do something no man has ever successfully done before – manage Jarryd Hayne.
The Titans yesterday axed Neil Henry with a year to run on his contract following his dramatic feud with Hayne and the Gold Coast’s slide down the NRL ladder.
A plethora of problems contributed to Henry’s demise following three years at the Titans, but among them was the $ 1.2 million question: How do you get the best out of Hayne?
Henry was Hayne’s eighth coach in 11 NRL seasons and suffered the fate most of his predecessors had.
“We will start the search for a new coach immediately,” Ti- tans chief executive Graham Annesley said yesterday.
“Clearly the issue of the management of all of our players will be a key consideration in the search for a new coach.
“We look forward to appointing a new coach who will take this club to the next level. Hopefully we will see much success in the future.
“We would hope we would have a new coach in place for the players’ return from annual leave in early November.”
Maroons coach Kevin Walters is among the contenders for the Gold Coast post.
Other candidates include South Sydney’s Michael Maguire and Canterbury’s underpressure coach Des Hasler.
Former Manly coach Geoff Toovey is in England while emerging assistants Jason Demetriou ( Brisbane), Anthony Seibold ( Souths and Queensland) and Adam O’Brien ( Melbourne) are highly rated.
Hayne is on shaky ground. The Titans would release him on the right terms, but at the moment they plan for him to be part of their squad in 2018.
Henry’s assistants Terry Matterson and Craig Hodges will assume the coaching duties for the Titans’ two remaining matches in 2017.