Cash to splash if move arrives

THE Gold Coast will be flush with funds in the search for a replacement if Jarryd Hayne leaves the club, with the Titans not responsible for a cent if their marquee man walks out on his deal.

While the club paid out hundreds of thousands this year for “ghost” players – those who they had offloaded or had retired early – they will not be responsible for Hayne’s hefty pay packet if he leaves the Coast in order to be closer to his daughter.

His exit would not deliver disgruntled Panther Matt Moylan to the club though, despite the former Origin player’s close links with new coach Garth Brennan.

Moylan is set to move to Cronulla, with Sharks half James Maloney headed for the foot of the mountains in a swap with the Panthers.

“If Jarryd does want to move on it’ll free up some money to do more (in the player market),” a club source said.

With forward Agnatius Paasi set to be granted a release on compassionate grounds to the New Zealand Warriors, and Tyrone Roberts’ move to Warrington freeing up funds, the Titans are on the hunt for an edge back-rower and centre to finalise their 2018 squad.

If Hayne leaves, they will have cash for another marquee player and in a position to pounce if clubs that overestimated next year’s salary cap have to squeeze players out.

Several clubs are feeling salary cap pressure, a reason Hayne may not be able to make the move he wants.

“I don’t know what club’s got the money,” a source said when news of a possible Hayne move broke.

“Who can afford him? I just can’t see it.”

There’s little doubt Hayne would have to take a cut to his $1.2 million Titans pay packet, a substantial portion of which is paid by sponsors Trip-ADeal as a marquee player allowance.

But the league’s salary cap auditors would have to green light any cut-price deal, making Hayne a hard sell for most outfits.

“You never quite know with Jarryd because there’s a lot of innuendo around him,” one source said.

“If you hear from his mouth he wants to go (only then will you know the speculation is real and) the club can work a deal. You never know with him.”

IF YOU HEAR FROM HIS MOUTH HE WANTS TO GO (ONLY THEN WILL YOU KNOW THE SPECULATION IS REAL AND) THE CLUB CAN WORK A DEAL. YOU NEVER KNOW WITH HIM ...