Jarryd Hayne has been rewarded for his solid return to rugby league by being named in the starting line-up for the Gold Coast in their clash with the Wests Tigers.
Hayne will start in the five-eighth position after playing the majority of his 52 minutes in the halves for the Titans in their loss to the Warriors.
The 28-year-old made a number of big plays including a crunching try saving tackle on his first involvement. He also threw an intercept pass that led to a try but Titans coach Neil Henry said the positives far outweighed the negatives.
“He’s (Hayne) certainly showed he’s still got it, hasn’t he?” Henry said.
“He’s a great threat carrying the ball. It does put another question to the defensive line as well.”
By playing in the halves, Hayne will see plenty of the ball as he transitions his way back to fullback once regular five-eighth Tyrone Roberts returns from a knee injury.
“Everyone assumes he’ll be fullback but we see no real reason to throw him back there with Meady doing such a good job,” Henry said.
“Jarryd has played a fair bit of footy in the 6, it’s something that he was quite keen to do as a way of getting into the team anyway because he has to call some plays and get his hands on the ball a but more.”
Hayne was cleared of any wrongdoing wth a referee touch which cleared him to play the important match against the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown.
His focus today was on watching the action from the Rio Olympics and the inspirational performance of the Australian Women’s sevens team.
Australian women's rugby 7's, Olympic champions. #gold great game by New Zealand. What a great final!! pic.twitter.com/ib9EFKHNSt
— jarryd hayne (@JarrydHayne) August 8, 2016
In a further boost for the Titans, Club captain Nathan Friend has been named on an extended bench and could make a return from a hamstring injury.
“Friendy is a good chance at being available, he ran the other day and was pain free, we need to give him a contact and ball work session and see how he pulls up. Hopefully he is available for selection and if he is we will have to make another decision,” Henry said.
The Titans are currently in 10th place on the ladder, one point behind the Tigers and Warriors.
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