“Keep both Neil Henry and Jarryd Hayne, and make Hayne captain”.
Trust the visionary Mal Meninga to support the two protagonists at the Titans, when other pundits have suggested both be sacked, or that either coach Neil Henry, or overpaid superstar Jarryd Hayne be let go.
Nobody has better credentials than Meninga.
He’s a Canberra, Queensland, and Kangaroo legend who should have been made an Immortal years ago and who went on to become the most successful coach in Origin history before taking on the Kangaroos coaching job.
That ticks all the possible boxes in the 13-man code.
And the Titans board would be dead-set stupid not to take Meninga’s advice.
Having said that, Hayne dodges a bullet if he stays.
He’s on a $1.2 million a season contract, but he’s playing like a $120,000 rookie.
And it all started when he was fined by the Titans senior playing group for his slackness at pre-season training – hardly a good start for the best footballer at the club on the biggest contract.
And despite the odd moment of expected genius, Hayne hasn’t fired as expected. He’s a flawed genius.
“By making him captain, he will have additional responsibilities,” Meninga added.
Big call at a crisis time for the Gold Coast club.
But Hayne has form in the ‘clash with coaches’ stakes.
First up was both Brian Smith and Jason Taylor at Parramatta – both quit.
Then Michael Hagan at Parramatta, who quit saying Hayne didn’t live up to expectations,.
And after reachig the 2009 NRL grand final, Daniel Anderson was sacked the following year, and Stephen Kearney trod the same path in 2012. Ricky Stuart also quit the following year.
That’s a litany of Parramatta disasters, that also included a serious salary cap disclosure.
Not for one second am I suggesting Hayne is the sole reason why Parramatta coaches used the exit door with such regularity, but Hayne was the best player at the club. He conclusively proved in 2009 with six successive man of the match awards, an unheard of streak, and winning the Dally M, that he was the best on the roster.
And here we go again, without the six successive awards, and the Dally M.
There have been a couple of other related movements in the last day.
Youngsters Ash Taylor (22), and Kane Elgey (23) have added fuel to the fire by saying they won’t re-sign with the club if Henry stays on a coach.
Bad call from two wet behind the ears virtual rookies who have been around for ‘five minutes’, especially as two senior players in Kiwi international Kevin Proctor, and NSW Origin hooker Nathan Peats have told Titans CEO Graham Annesley they fully support Henry as coach.
Annesley has described the situation as “complex” – and it’s been further fuelled by leaks.
Have they come from the board?
If so they are playing a very dangerous game.
What will make it very interesting if the beleaguered Titans, having lost their last four games totalling 146-36, beat Parramatta tonight at ANZ Stadium – as Hayne is out with an ankle injury.
That will really set the cat among the pigeons.
rl
Guest
I'm not comparing their playing styles, I'm comparing their captaincy credentials. Bennett couldn't cop having a captain in Tbaiday that wasn't leading the way at training (and Bennett has been dropping the hint on him for a few years now about his off field work). Hayne is cut from the same cloth. Only players like Lamb get to such lofty status as a captain that by the end of their career they are 'selective' trainers.
The Barry
Roar Guru
If you think it's rubbish I don't think this is going to help things...? In the books they're called the others. In the show white walkers. Basically they're undead snow zombies that inhabit North of the wall.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Left field suggestion by Mal however I wouldn't contemplate it. When Hayne captained the Eels, he would often give the refs an absolute gobfull, he isn't a skipper. Hayne needs a mentor to get him back to fitness and rediscover his old form.
RV
Guest
Is Hayne any more of a villain than Foran? Signed a $1m per year with Parra, walked out due to need to take a break from football; after they let other good players go to keep him. It's actually amazing Parra are going to play finals after last year and losing not just Foran but also Peats, Paulo. Then Foran turns up shortly thereafter at NZ only to announce mid season he's going to the Dogs. Has Foran been trying ? The media doesn't vilify him. Hayne is just a story that was too good to pass up. The Titans are not even an important club to the game or to the outcome of this season.
RV
Guest
The underlying issue is that Hayne is not someone you buy to build a club around. You buy him for his X factor. It's still there if you have the right other elements - a strong coach and strong on field leadership. Don't bring him to your club if you want him to do it all - it didn't work at Parra. In NFL for example, teams there are leaders, there are workers and your weapons. The NY Giants Odell Beckham Junior is a weapon but is in no way a leader. The Giants have other players to fulfil those other roles. Convenient to say it's all Haynes fault at Titans and that it was all his fault at Parra. But he's behind a rudderless pack of forwards with an underperforming Ryan James and Kevin Provtor. and Judging by tonight's performance Taylor and Elgey don't have much to brag about either. They were awful.
David Brown
Roar Rookie
DS is clearly being ironic Mr. Lord. Read his post again.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Read the books first, no that makes perfect sense to me, as the books are probably better. But again what is a white walker???
Beau Gann
Roar Rookie
Now Justin Hodges is reported as making the exact same suggestion. Next, Brad Fittler, The Johns Brothers and every other dumb-as-a-rock job will be taught to read the same script.... Weird agenda to have. Hayne and Farah have now undermined several coaches each, and they rarely deliver on field. It's got to be Neil Henry's way, or the highway to Women's World Championship Hopscotch for Jarryd
TigerMike
Guest
Can't even show up on the sidelines Much less the captains box when he's off injured probably watching yankee tv footy tonight
TigerMike
Guest
Do hayne the hero Did he support his team in syd tonight? For 12000000 reasons lolo nono
sheek
Roar Guru
Hi David, Hmmmm, the idea of making a troublesome player captain to get the best out of him is not a new idea. Eddie Jones did it recently to great effect with Dylan Hartley for England. Way back in the mid-60s, legendary player/coach Clive Churchill appointed firebrand forward Johnny Sattler as captain of Souths. But Hayne as captain? Nah. I respect Meninga's opinion on most occasions, but disagree strongly here. I think Hayne has reached the un-coachable stage. He is too selfish to work with other players, say like Jonathan Thurston or Billy Slater, to bring both the best out of himself & his teammates.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Read the books first. I wouldn't expect you to understand.
twodogs
Guest
Therefore Meninga/Sattler are both correct - hidden behind a talented but flighty individual is often a very good leader. Haynes ego is so large it may need the extra responsibility of captaincy to thrive. So make him captain and keep Henry. It's worth a try and won't cost the Titans any severance money.
Suechi
Guest
How Meninga adopts Hayne as a QLDer and put him as origin captain.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Oh dont tell me you watch that game of thrones, crap ??? Bloody hell
Rellum
Roar Guru
If he is not going to be leading the team around the park, then he needs to set an example off of it and it seems clear he is not the one to be doing the latter.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Ipswich seems to be the third team behind Souths and Redcliffe with the Broncs. Ben Hunt did go back there this year though. I do wonder if players like Hayne are required to register with a QRL team.
Nat
Roar Guru
Still the Bears and Seagulls. Ipswich has a link to the Broncos but they have had plenty of talent go all over the NRL.
Nat
Roar Guru
I'm not sure who you've just insulted most there, Thaiday or Lamb. Sammy always digs in but accepts his place on the bench when form dips. Lamb, absolute legend, doesn't deserve to be compared to a bulldozer forward.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Damn it... Jason Snow just doesn't have the same ring to it...