Polarising superstar Jarryd Hayne has had the final say on the sacking of Gold Coast Titans coach Neil Henry, insinuating that he was subjected to a media smear campaign generated by leaks from Henry himself.
In an unannounced media appearance prior to training on Wednesday, Hayne declared that reports of any feud between he and Henry were false, before suggesting that the coach had been leaking information to members of the media since pre-season.
Prior to Round 1 News Limited published an artilce regarding Hayne's apparent poor attitude to training and the issuing of fines for such during the Titans' pre-season.
At the time Hayne hit back at the allegations and also raised the suggestion of an internal leak, tweeting that "loose lips sinks ships" and defending himself from missing a captain's session he said was optional and which Henry fined him for missing when he found out.
Then two weeks ago, prior to the clash with the Dragons, a story suggesting that Hayne should be the one to be let go by the club and not Henry, prompted the star fullback to tell media after the game that he would be happy to walk if the coach no longer wanted him.
Henry has vehemently denied any suggestion of providing any journalists with information relating to Hayne or of any feud with his fullback, but even in the wake of the coach's departure Hayne couldn't help but express his opinion as to what had transpired.
"Probably when Paul Kent wrote that article and knowing that Paul Kent and Neil have a relationship," Hayne said of the News Limited journalist and the issue coming to a public head two weeks ago.
"I felt that if that comes out from Paul, I'd rather Neil just tell me himself instead of having journalists write it.
"That's what was disappointing from my point of view. Being my head coach, having a journalist that he has a relationship with and for that to come out in the media instead of coming up to me and talking to me about it.
"For that week to have no communication with me personally, that was a bit disappointing.
"I wasn't to the point where I wanted to come in and blow up or go off my head. I literally said if that's the case then so be it."
Hayne also reiterated his belief that the article written the week before the first game of the season also impacted on his relationship with Henry.
"There was an article at the start of the year that I felt was something that if someone had an issue, speak to me about it instead of going through a journalist," Hayne said.
"That's something that really upset me but I got over that and then for it to happen again that pretty much took me over the edge.
"If you've got an issue with someone, just speak to them. Be the man, not through a journalist. That was something that was very disappointing but life goes on.
"I wish Neil all the best. I don't hold any grudges or anything like that, he's a good guy and unfortunately it didn't work out for the coach."
