League: Titans coach Neil Henry rubbishes reports of his imminent sacking

Titans coach Neil Henry insists he's going nowhere, amid reports both he and Jarryd Hayne are on their way out of the club. Photo / photosport.nz

By James Matthey and Adam Santarossa

Gold Coast coach Neil Henry has rubbished suggestions of a feud between him and Jarryd Hayne while speaking to the media for the first time since the club held crisis talks with the pair on Monday.

Publicly the club said it hadn't made a decision on the future of either man but it has since been reported the Titans are planning to sack Henry after the team's game against Parramatta on Thursday night.

Henry said he hasn't been told anything like that and wants to stay in charge in 2018, but admitted the frenzy on the glitter strip had been "upsetting" and a distraction for his players.

He also denied allegations he delivered an ultimatum to the Titans that it was "him or me" with regards to his and Hayne's futures.

"There's no feud between us, we're sitting there doing the team review in the front row . . . that is rubbish," Henry told reporters.

"It's a beat-up in the media all this . . . there's no feud. There's not. You can ask any players about it and they'll say the same thing."

But as much as Henry tried to quash talk of any difficulties in the relationship between him and Hayne, the cryptic way he skirted around some questions suggests not everything is as rosy as he wants people to believe.

Asked if Hayne was a team player, Henry said: "That's a difficult one, he's part of a team and he works hard."

Asked if he wanted Hayne at the club next year if he was still coach, Henry refused to answer and later offered up this on whether the NSW star would stay in Queensland next year: "That's up to him, he's contracted here as much as I'm contracted here . . . He's a quality player and if he chooses to play here he'll be part of my team."

Asked if Hayne was tough to coach, Henry said: "Players are tough to coach at different times but you've got to manage personalities, that's what coaches have to do. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You can't expect your whole squad to be happy with everything you do all the time."

Henry said rumours the pair were no longer on speaking terms were completely unfounded and also addressed a story that came out earlier in the year reporting he wasn't happy with the superstar's attitude at training.

Henry said the story about Hayne being fined by the leadership group in November came out just before the start of the season because of an "agenda" against Hayne.

"That story came out just before our first round game," Henry said.

"We're talking about something that had been done and dealt with.

"You're talking about stuff you've conveniently held and then it comes out.

"It was an agenda to have a crack at my player."

Meanwhile, the Courier Mail reports Gold Coast will try to push Hayne out, telling him he's free to be released from the final year of his deal if he can find a suitor to take his $1.2 million a season contract off the club's hands.

It's unlikely an NRL will be in a position to do so, but Hayne could field strong offers from either French or Japanese Rugby.

Courier Mail rugby league journalist Travis Meyn said the Titans "will try" to get rid of both Hayne and Henry, but it's easier said than done.