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Jarryd Hayne WILL PLAY play this weekend

Jarryd Hayne (Grant Trouville/nrlphotos.com)
3rd August, 2016
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There might only be five rounds to go in the 2016 NRL season, but the Gold Coast Titans will have Jarryd Hayne on the field before the season is out after he signed with the club on Wednesday Morning.

The deal, worth $1.2 million per season making it the biggest in NRL history was expected to be in effect from the start of the 2017 season, but because Hayne is not a registered rugby league player either in Australia or anywhere in the world he will be able to play as soon as the NRL clears him.

Titans CEO Graham Annesley confirmed Hayne would be available for the Titans this weekend.

“More importantly for us, Jarryd has made himself available for the rest of this year, meaning he could play on Sunday against the Warriors.”

Danny Weidler broke the news on Channel Nine this morning and Hayne could be named on the Titans teamsheet as early as this weekend, when the Titans take on the Warriors at CBus Super Stadium.

More Jarryd Hayne:
» Five big questions about Hayne signing with the Gold Coast Titans
» Jarryd Hayne’s Gold Coast Titans press conference
» Splash of the Titans – Jarryd officially signs with the Gold Coast

Weidler told the Triple M Grill Team that the problem for Hayne will be clearing up the mess that he left behind at the Parramatta Eels, with their well-documented salary cap problems affecting Hayne.

The other problem may well be other clubs and their public reaction to the fact Hayne could be back in the NRL this year.

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The Titans are well under the salary cap and so have room to bring Hayne in, and with the NRL owning the club the whole situation could be potentially looked upon in a friendly light.

Although the fitness and ability of Hayne to jump straight back into first-grade rugby league must be questioned, he is a world class player and athlete and would be a massive boost for the Titans, who have been playing well above expectations this year.

Many had tipped them to be at the bottom of the ladder come this point of the season, but instead they are well in the fight for a top eight spot, and with Hayne now to turn out with them over the final five rounds their chances only increase.

Hayne had stated when he left the NRL in 2014 that he would only ever play for his former club the Parramatta Eels if he was to return, but after speculation that has dragged on ever since he quit the NFL and the deal today will see him break that promise.

It seems as though the ongoing issues with Parramatta gave Hayne little choice but to look elsewhere, with the club not able to table him an official offer.

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