Jarryd Hayne's future at the Gold Coast will be decided today when he enters crisis talks with coach Neil Henry over their public falling out.
The Hayne Plane could take off from Queensland's glitter strip following his strongly-worded criticism of Henry in the wake of the Titans' 42-16 defeat to St George Illawarra on Saturday. Hayne told The Daily Telegraph he would quit the club if Henry wanted him gone and claimed his coach did not speak to him in the week leading up to their loss to the Dragons.
Courier Mail rugby league reporter Peter Badel told Fox Sports on Sunday Henry reportedly delivered a "him or me" ultimatum to the club's directors in the lead up to the clash, claiming the pair couldn't work together.
Titans chairwoman Rebecca Frizelle and CEO Graham Annesley will mediate the peace talks between Hayne and Henry in an effort to repair relations.
"These distractions are demoralising to our entire playing group, members, sponsors, and everyone who supports the Titans," the club said in a statement.
"The issues involved must be addressed in the best interests of the club's future."
Both men have a year to run on their contracts however it now appears untenable both will remain at the club beyond 2017. Reports suggest Annesley will announce the outcome of the crisis talks later this afternoon.
Hayne has been criticised for his performance in 2017 while pulling in a marquee salary worth a reported $1.2 million a season. He said he would speak to his manager about possibly seeking an early release and to gauge his options.
The NSW State of Origin representative has few options with most clubs under pressure to get under the salary cap.
ONE PLAYER BOTH MEN NEED ON THEIR SIDE
Newcastle premiership winner Matthew Johns says Gold Coast halfback Ash Taylor will play a key role in the outcome of Monday's crisis talks. Taylor is one of the best young playmakers in the game and Johns says the No. 7's interests need to be taken into account before making any decision on the Hayne-Henry showdown.
The 22-year-old is off contract at the end of 2018 and Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett recently said he'd be interested in luring him to the Broncos when he becomes available.
"Ash Taylor for me is crucial in this," Johns said on the Triple M Grill Team. "He's a future superstar, and when I say future it's the near future. Ash Taylor's relationship with Henry is crucial, the question is who is he siding with here?
"If he loses Ash Taylor that could be it for Neil Henry.
"If he (Taylor) said, 'If Neil Henry's going to be here I'm not going to sign', I would say that's it for Neil Henry."
Channel Nine journalist Danny Weidler says it's not just a matter of Hayne vs Henry because the superstar fullback has the support of at least half a dozen players.
"It's not as simple as Jarryd Hayne carrying on like a brat like a lot of people want to try and paint this," Weidler told the Grill Team.
"There are a number of players, I'm talking over half a dozen, who would back Hayne. It's not going to be as simple as, 'OK Jarryd, you're the problem here, you're gone.'
"It's not just Jarryd, there's other players involved and there is significant dissatisfaction within the playing ranks when it comes to Neil Henry."
Reports have emerged recently Henry didn't want to sign Hayne last year, but was overruled by the Titans' board. Weidler says that has angered officials on the Gold Coast.
"What's annoyed the Titans is Henry trying to distance himself from signing Jarryd Hayne. This has gone down really badly with the officials at the club," Weidler said.
HAYNE TOLD TO 'STOP THE CRAP'
Rugby league greats have lined up to slam Hayne, suggesting the NSW star's time on the Gold Coast may be up.
Former NRL enforcer Mark "Spudd" Carroll said Hayne should never have threatened to quit and isn't earning his pay cheque.
"It disappoints me he'd come out and say a comment like that," Carroll told Fox Sports. "Dead set, on the open market, he would not get the money he's on now. That's for players who are absolute superstars."
"To be on that crazy money ... that needs to be players like JT (Johnathan Thurston) and Cameron Smith.
"I don't think he (Hayne) is earning it (his pay packet), no way in the world ... It's got to be each day, it can't be one week in, one week out."
Ex-NSW skipper Brad Fittler agreed with Carroll as Channel Nine presenter James Bracey called the friction between Hayne and the Titans "so awkward".
"He's hard, he's a hard one. There's no one answer for that," Fittler said on The Sunday Footy Show when asked how to motivate Hayne.
"The way he prepared to play NFL, when he puts his mind to something it looks like he can pretty much do anything. God knows (if he gets bored).
"The one thing he's got to do is stop the sort of crap he tossed up then (saying he'll quit), speaking publicly like he needs to respond to all these things about whether he should be at the Titans.
"Neil Henry's within his rights to say $1.2 million hurts your salary cap, and at the moment Jarryd's not living up to the money they're giving him."
Former Queensland centre Justin Hodges and Panthers legend Greg Alexander both said it's time for Hayne to go because he just hasn't worked at the Titans.