Gold Coast coach Neil Henry has denied feuding with star fullback Jarryd Hayne and claimed the pair can co-exist at the NRL club next season.
Henry will coach the Titans against Hayne's former club Parramatta on Thursday night, but the future of both men is in doubt following Monday crisis talks with club officials and a Titans board meeting which reserved a decision until next week.
At the centre of the issue is Henry's relationship with highly-paid Hayne, although there are also claims some other players are unhappy with his coaching.
Henry on Tuesday denied any rift between him and the playing group, labelling it a "beat up in the media".
While a report emerged that the board had already decided it will sack Henry, the coach acknowledged he was in the dark about his future, not having spoken to chief executive Graham Annesley since Monday.
"There's speculation (about my future), and we'll find out I suppose in due course whether or not that's true," Henry said.
Asked if he and Hayne can work together at the club beyond this season, he said: "I think we can.
"It's about being consistent, it's about some give and take and putting the club first.
"Our challenge is to finish the season in a positive way and my challenge is to finish the season as a coach."
While Henry refuted claims of a rift, he was circumspect when asked if he viewed the superstar as a team player.
"That's a difficult one," he said.
"He's part of the team, he works hard and certainly we know he can play some decent football, but he hasn't had the year he's expected and everyone's expected and he'd admit to that as well.
"But there's not a feud between us - it's not like we don't talk to each other - we converse, we talk tactics and there's banter before the game."
Asked if Hayne was tough to coach, Henry said: "Players are tough to coach at different times but you've got to manage personalities ... 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."
To complicate matters, Hayne is battling an ankle injury and Henry said he was "50-50" to line up against his former team at ANZ Stadium on Thursday night.
The club is expected to make an announcement next week regarding the futures of Henry and Hayne.
"It's distracting to the players, to me, to everyone in the organisation," Henry said.
"I'm contracted here and I'd like to stay here a long time. I think we've done some good things at a club that's had a fair bit of turmoil in the last few years."
Share
