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Will Hayne make the Gold Coast Titans relevant again?

Jarryd Hayne has announced he is returning to the NRL - but not with Parramatta. (Photo: nrlphotos.com)
Roar Pro
2nd August, 2016
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In the space of 12 months, the Gold Coast Titans have gone from wooden spoon favourites and a club in turmoil, to a genuine threat to the competition in seasons to come.

All of this thanks to two high-profile recruits, one who never played a game for the club.

After losing Daly Cherry Evens and Aiden Sezer, leaving young gun Kane Elgey as the only half at the club, coach Neil Henry brought in Newcastle’s Tyrone Roberts and made possibly the signing of the season in 21-year-old Ash Taylor.

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

Having a solid and dominant, if inexperienced, forward pack, along with the new halves, all that was left was a top-class hooker and fullback.

Founding member Nathan Friend was brought back to the club for his swansong year, followed by future representative number 9 Nathan Peats – a casualty of the Eels salary cap saga – seeing Henry’s side unexpectedly inside the top eight after 21 rounds.

Since signing for the Titans in 2009, Will Zillman is one of the club’s longest-serving players, and their current co-captain, but lengthy spells on the sideline due to injury have hampered his career. As a result, fullback has been a headache for the club, with backline utility Josh Hoffman and speed demon David Mead often rotating in the position.

Enter Jarryd Hayne.

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What’s left to say about the two-time Dally M medal winner?

After his somewhat successful overseas crusades, Hayne’s return to the NRL with the Titans shows he means business. His style of play will work well with the current structure at the club, his signature another feather in the cap of Henry.

Off the back of dominant forwards rolling down the park, aided by Peat’s clever work from dummy half, Taylor leads his troops around the park in the attacking 30, playing with a freedom and ease that sides like the Dragons struggle to match.

Meanwhile, their non-reliance on block plays suits Hayne’s attacking game. He possesses a unique ability to read the game and hit holes running off his halves, or turn playmaker himself, putting teammates into space – not to mention the individual brilliance that saw him score over 100 tries in his 176 NRL games.

The experience and knowledge he brings is invaluable, with the oldest player in the traditional ‘spine’ of the team being Peats, at only 25. As a result, partnerships can and will be easily formed, benefitting the whole side.

After shocking the NRL world by being far more competitive this season than anyone predicted, the Titans have again rocked the boat with the Hayne signing. A team touted as future competition heavyweights, the Hayne Plane sees them flying into relevance in the here and now, the new dark horses.

Whether Hayne can have an instant impact on the Titans and competition will be seen in future weeks, but what we do know is that with a side full of potential and confidence around him, Hayne can be a world beater once again.

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Do you think Hayne will be successful in the NRL this season? When will he win his first premiership? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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