In 2011, Graham Annesley was elected the member for Miranda in the NSW Parliament, and was immediately made Minister for Sport and Recreation.
Halfway through his term Annesley resigned his portfolio saying he loved the job, but not the politics.
He left in 2013 to take up the CEO job at the Gold Coast Titans.
Yesterday he was involved in politics again, fronting the media to announce Neil Henry was sacked as Titans coach, effective immediately.
And throughout the grilling, Annesley looked as though he sure wanted to be anywhere else than looking like a stunned mullet.
His giveaway quote was “This decision wasn’t player driven, or Neil would still be coach”.
So it was entirely a Titans Board decision, with Annesley as CEO having to walk the media plank.
The other six directors have been noticeable by their absence.
And that makes Neil Henry’s sacking gutless.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
The Board has sided with overpaid contract player Jarryd Hayne, the $1.2 million a season former superstar who has given the club a maximum $120,000 worth of performance.
The fracas all started with Hayne saying he’d leave the club if the coach wanted him to go.
Henry retaliated with “Either Hayne goes, or I go” which turned out to be a suicidal comment.
That was early last week. Since then Annesley spoke to both Hayne and Henry, the Board met on Saturday, Annesley told Henry he was gone, and told the roster yesterday of the decision.
Assistant coaches Terry Matherson and Craig Hodges will take over for the Titans final two games of the season.
To compound the gutless decision, the Board has decided Hayne will be involved with the selection of the new coach.
Unbelievable.
Moving on, two intriguing aspects emerge in the not too distant future.
Will the Titans’ directors surface to name Henry’s replacement?
And what if Jarryd Hayne is still a faded superstar in 2018?
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Who said that? I had not seen it
Kevin
Guest
Who would want Paul Kent for a friend. Rumour is that Henry mentioned to Kent that he never wanted Hayne but the board insisted. Then Kent uses it as a story and Henry is immediately a dead man walking.
Mark in Leeds
Guest
Gold Coast in whatever format has been a useless failure since they joined the NRL. Get rid, spare us all the embarrassment this so-called club represents, and give Perth a chance.
mushi
Guest
Russia? Isn't russia fighting it's way out of a prolonged recession and roundly criticised for being the play thing of manical autocrat
Buddy Holly
Guest
"Hayne will be involved with the selection of the new coach." Hayne will probably appoint himself coach!!!
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Actually as much as I like Bennett he did cop getting saddled with Snowden on a huge contract that he came out publically as saying was way overs. Nearly walked out on the knights then and there if I recall correctly but for the fact he risked getting sued.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Not sure what this has to do with the Titans board sacking Henry.
Jacko
Guest
Other players are saying he did not refuse to speak to any player so that is not true
sheek
Roar Guru
Agreed David. The Gold Coast committee must have a brain the size of a peanut between them. Someone desperate for an NRL gig might apply, but I would think anyone with a modicum of intelligence won't go anywhere near the Titans. It's like accepting a poisoned chalice. The other interesting thing is how many coaches will take the gig knowing Hayne is a divisive influence? The Titans committee have backed themselves into the mother of all losing corners.
Jem Nash
Roar Rookie
Hayne is a cancer to the team and needs to go. If the board is listening to one of its players over the coach, then there is a serious issue. Hayne and the board should have gone before Neil Henry. He is a good coach, he got Titans to the finals last season without Hayne almost the entire season. They almost started playing worse when Hayne arrived. That money that he is wasting could be spent on something so much more worthwhile. I like the Titans, I hope they get out of this mess, but it unfortunately doesn't look likely at the moment.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Wayne Bennett wouldn't accept being saddled with Jarryd Hayne in exchange for losing a bunch of his starting XIII though.
Womblat
Guest
That is an excellent point. The NRL must have had oversight of this decision from the go. Given their recent track record it's no surprise they've grossly bungled this one too. Rank amateurs.
Jay C
Guest
This was never just a decision about Henry or Hayne. It was dollars and cents. Let's not forget, the NRL own the Titans. The decision to take Hayne to the Gold Coast was clearly one they wanted the Titans board to make. So they would've 'encouraged' the Titans and Henry to make the deal. They probably thought it would be easier to sell the Titans if they had someone like Hayne on their team. The problem was, now they have someone like Hayne on their team and would only get cents when they were looking for dollars. They couldn't let Hayne go cause that would mean they made a bad decision, so Henry was the scapegoat cause they stuffed up royally.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Its not the worst decision if what I have heard is correct, and that is that Henry refused to speak to Hayne and they did have a division. If that is the case, then that is pathetic as a head coach, his job is to manage the egos of his team no matter how big or small. Ask a good coach like Wayne Bennett.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
No, I didn't say the loser coaches should be sacked, but they are still loser coaches behind all their platitudes about successful seasons. I'm just adding some perspective, ie there can only be 1 winner to the 15 losers.
AGordon
Guest
so if the Board and coach have a long term rebuilding plan, eg Manly and the side meets the targets set, but doesn't win the premiership, the coach is a loser, eh? I assume this means the coach should be sacked??
Sava
Guest
The Gold Coast is the place for a third Qld ARL team ,but the League has never promoted the Titans games as the should. If I was holidaying on the Gold Coast,It would be a good afternoon or evening watching the Titans play any of the ARL teams.Incentives to entice visitors to the games,included in Holiday packages etc. The Gold Coast is one of the fasted growing areas in Australia ,ripe for Junior Rugby League development ,Get on with it Titans. Sava
BigJ
Roar Guru
Thought the Warriors were the biggest enemies of themselves in the NRL. Clearly this is now the Titans. Tell you one thing though buggered if im renewing my membership next year
P Air
Guest
Get rid of the Titans and replace them with a 2nd Brisbane team from either Ipswich or Redcliffe.