Henry to consider Hayne halves switch

Hayne

Titans coach Neil Henry said Jarryd Hayne could be moved into the halves for next weekend’s clash with the Tigers in Campbelltown.

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Hayne returned to the NRL on Sunday in the Gold Coast’s loss to the Warriors, fitting in at centre and in the halves.

With regular halfback Tyrone Roberts missing the Warriors game through injury and not expected to play the next two matches, Henry said he would contemplate moving Hayne into the halves on a more permanent basis.

“I think Cullo (Cameron Cullen) is doing a job in the halves as well,” said Henry.

“Meady’s been consistent for us at the back, so he (Hayne) could play in the halves and we could do a shuffle around with Cullo anyway.

“We’ll just wait and see.”

The Titans coach said it was too much to expect Hayne to be able to slip back into the fullback role in his first match back.

“That’s the reality of slotting in and everyone assuming he plays 80 minutes at fullback and running around for nearly eight kilometres on the field – he’s not used to doing that," said Henry.

“On the bench, where he can play a role is a better fit for him but he’ll look to be better next week whether that’s centres, halves or fullback, I’m not sure.”

Henry was happy with Hayne’s first NRL game in almost two years, but said fitness was an issue.

“It’s probably a few more minutes than we thought he’d play,” said the coach.

“His personal performance, I was pretty happy with it. He was blowing out there as he said. He hasn’t played footy in a while and he’s gotta hang in at times.

“Anyone who watched the game would think he acquitted himself well and created a few opportunities and he’ll be better for that run.”

Hayne’s 58 minute stint started when Josh Hoffman went off for a concussion test. He had an immediate impact with a try saving tackle before recovering a bomb which nearly led to a Titans try.

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While he had a few dangerous involvements, the two-time Dally M winner also threw an interception to David Fusitua. The Warriors winger took off down the field and Solomone Kata scored soon after.

“He knows it was the wrong decision,” said Henry.

“He threw a couple of nice passes, but that’s going to happen occasionally. We did it on both sides of the field and we didn’t handle their defence being up and in, which we talked about.

“We need to be better with putting kicks in behind or putting a few different questions to them.

“It was an error in judgment, but he had a couple of nice touches out there and he’ll move on pretty quickly because that game’s gone.”

With the Warriors getting the points on the Gold Coast and the Tigers upsetting the Cowboys at Leichhardt, the Titans slip to ninth spot on the ladder, one point ahead of the Panthers who still have a game to play. 

 

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