Hayne set to play, stay with NRL Titans
Apr 21, 2017 - 3:33 AM A plan B is in place if Jarryd Hayne does not stay at the Gold Coast, but Titans coach Neil Henry believes it is unlikely the NRL star will leave the tourist strip.Hayne is set to make his long-awaited NRL return in Saturday night's clash against Cronulla after a five-week layoff with an ankle injury.
The Titans are expected to make an official call on Hayne, co-captain Kevin Proctor (hamstring) and centre Konrad Hurrell (knee) on Saturday but all three moved freely at training on Friday.
D-Day is also looming for Hayne's signature.
Hayne has two weeks to decide whether to take up a $1 million Titans offer for next year.
Titans boss Graham Annesley has slammed reports that claimed the Gold Coast wanted to offload the injury-hit former Test star.
Henry said the Titans had a back-up plan in place if Hayne decided to leave but was quietly confident the ex-NFL player wasn't going anywhere.
"That contract is sitting there. We don't have to negotiate anything - it's there," Henry said.
"It's up to him if he takes it up.
"If he decides not to - which I think is unlikely - then we will go to plan B, we might have to look at our outside backs."
All eyes will be on Hayne if he is passed fit for a showdown with Cronulla No.1 Valentine Holmes.
But Henry warned fans to be patient with Hayne, saying he would need time to find his feet when he finally returns after being restricted to eight games since his NRL comeback.
"Everyone expects Jarryd to come out and be the player of the match and do something special," the Titans coach said.
"He is heavily scrutinised every time he plays and he has high expectations.
"But he hasn't been able to settle into any rhythm here.
"My expectation is that he will have a solid game (on Saturday night) and that will do."
Henry said he would consider either Hayne replacing Tyrone Roberts at fullback, slotting the NRL star into centre or using him off the bench against defending premiers the Sharks.
"In the centres he won't need to cover as much ground as a fullback - that will be an issue for him considering he has spent a lot of time off his legs," Henry said.
"We may have to be a bit creative there."
Co-captain Ryan James has been cleared of an ankle injury but backrower Chris Grevsmuhl (groin) will be monitored.
Source: AAP
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