Neil Henry has been sacked by the Gold Coast Titans, seemingly bringing to an end a widely reported feud between the senior coach and star signing Jarryd Hayne.
“It was a particularly difficult conversation to have, everyone feels… for Neil and his family,” Titans CEO Graham Annesley said.
“The timing was not of the board’s desire. Unfortunately the timing was taken out of the board’s hands with the events that took place.
“By and large the board were driven by one agenda and one agenda only: to make a decision in the best interests of the club… in 2018 and beyond.
“We wish Neil nothing but the best for the future, and made it very velar to Neil that he’ll be welcome around this club.
“Everyone is hurting a little bit today.”
The Gold Coast Titans confirmed the news in an email to their members and made an announcement to the playing group on Monday after a day-long board meeting where Henry’s fate was decided.
Hayne, a Dally M Medallist in his time with the Eels, joined the Titans on a $1.2 million deal, but has failed to deliver this year.
It was revealed earlier this month that Henry did not want the Titans to recruit Hayne last year.
“He didn’t want him there because for Neil it was about managing the salary cap, there was too much money being put into one player for the salary cap,” said Daily Telegraph journalist Paul Kent.
A number of players had expressed public support for Henry to continue in his role, including Kevin Proctor.
“I reckon he’s the right man for the job… we’re all backing him as players and I’m hoping the board does that too,” Proctor said.
“He’s been getting hammered by the press and I feel sorry for him.
“Our bad performances have been back lashing on him and he doesn’t deserve it.”
However, Henry had reportedly lost the support of other key players.
With two rounds remaining in this NRL season the Titans are fourteen on the ladder with seven wins and fifteen losses, and have the second-worst points differential in the competition with -174, better only than the bottom-of-the-table Newcastle Knights.
Dave
Guest
To the Board Members ! So if the Titans don't get above 14th position on the NRL ladder next year 2018. Does that mean the Board will sack themselves and J Hayne if they don't................. Stick to your Guns Mr. Henry you have more gumption the Board Member's that you once worked for.
David Brown
Roar Rookie
Talented players with poor attitude that don't deliver on the pitch usually end up playing union in France. I expect to see Hayne there very soon. Neil Henry clearly saw the dangers of an overspend on one player and has been proven right. The result of his correct prediction, he gets the sack. Unbelievable.
Scott
Guest
They can't sack Hayne, he's on too much
Billy boy
Guest
Mmmmm think West Tigers a few years back!! Wow maddness. Long, wrong path taken here.
thomas c
Guest
For starters, it's the money. His contract is massive. People had similar issues when DCE was put on big money at Manly. There was a perception that being on that money, it was his team. He bore responsibility if they couldn't afford to acquire players. There's indifferent form, the stupidity of the "loose lips" quote, there's the post origin savior hype (not his fault), and the NFL style deluded machismo with the chest pounding. It's australia - tearing down people who we see as tall poppies is the national sport.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Agreed. What madness
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Few coaches? One of only two. Storm have only lost two games outside the origin period - one against the Sharks, the other against the Titans.
Jock Cornet
Guest
They must have had another coach contacted and assured to take over. Hasler would be good up there
Big Daddy
Guest
Why would you be a coach on the gold coast. First Rodney eade and now henry. Death wish job but the lifestyle is great.
Big Daddy
Guest
Graham annesly has got the trifecta. Bad ref, bad politician and now equally as bad CEO.
Johnno
Guest
Jarryd Hayne knows now Mal won't pick him for the roos, does he care if he never plays in the world cup under Mal? Does he care about winning a world cup, a big chance missed to achieve that in his career.
andrew
Guest
Feel sorry for Henry. But feel a bit sorry for Hayne also. He is being accused of everything and anything without having actually done anything other than be out of form. Obviously something has gone down at the club and on some level Hayne and Henry are both involved, but the fact that the club are keeping a tight lip - means everyone will speculate til the Cows come home (even though nobody actually knows outside the club). Being a scapegoat that he has been the majority of his career, Hayne will have to wear it.
Fix the scrums
Guest
" Nothing personal, just business". A bit sad really, Haynes star power won out in the end.
Big Daddy
Guest
Can the NRL sack the board seeing they own them. What a monumental cock up
Dave_S
Guest
"We wish Neil nothing but the best for the future, and made it very velar to Neil that he’ll be welcome around this club." Ahhh ... NOT. It's a real "1 step forwards 2 steps back" club, isn't it. Big shame.
thomas c
Guest
Lovely. It must be nice knowing that if you fail utterly as a team or board, you can abdicate responsibility and the coach will hang. I guess the next coach will need to end each instruction with "if its all right with jarred Hayne". Can we at least set a number of coaches to be fired before Hayne? Maybe we'll luck out and he'll have a dream of taking up professional darts or something. If you look at a lot of the best players, a lot of them are rock solid professionals where you know what you're getting on the field and off. They've taken advice. They train well. They aren't a sideshow. Frankly, the titans should have thrown some of that Hayne money at hiring Adam Blair. He would have provided an excellent mentor and harder physical and attitudinal edge to their forwards. i like the notion of purchasing a veteran player like blair or michael gordon as someone for your players to emulate.
Suechi
Guest
Yeah - dumb decision. The Titans were building nicely until Hayne came along - no coincidence. No other club wanted him, or certainly not willing to pay the stupid money Titans put on the table.
Gray-Hand
Guest
It is worth remembering that Henry inherited an aging mediocre roster at the Cowboys and managed the clean out that Green is taking advantage of. He took them through a true rebuilding phase. It's all well and good to look at statistics, but you have to understand the context in which they were recorded.
JohnnoMcJohnno
Roar Rookie
Agree the club was going nowhere with the Hayne/Henry combo. But why pull the plug now? Two games to go and the club can hold an end of year review and sack who they choose. This just looks like they took Haynes side which is a piss weak decision.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Disgraceful decision by the Titans board but predictable. They were backed into a corner by their own stupidity in signing Hayne for $1.2M for 2018. It was either ditch Hayne and cough up the balance of his contract or ditch Henry. Henry was obviously the cheaper option. The Titans had the respect of many NRL supporters for the way they went about their footy last year and earlier this year but that has all evaporated after this decision.