The Aquis Gold Coast Titans have today announced the biggest signing coup in the club's history after securing the signature of Jarryd Hayne until the end of the 2018 season.
Hayne, 28, is one of the biggest names in Australian sport and is returning to the NRL after departing the game in 2014 and going on to create he made global headlines by joining the San Francisco 49ers NFL team.
The two-time Dally M Player of the Year will join his Titans teammates for training on Thursday and is available to play in this Sunday’s round 22 clash against the New Zealand Warriors at Cbus Super Stadium.
Titans CEO, Graham Annesley said Hayne’s signing is the most significant in the club’s ten-year history.
“This is a monumental signing for the Titans and we are proud that Jarryd has identified our club as the best fit for him to return to the NRL,” Annesley said.
“It’s great news for not only our club, but for the NRL in general and we can’t wait to see Jarryd in action for the Titans.
“It’s also a fantastic boost for our members, fans, and corporate partners who have loyally stuck with the Titans throughout the clubs rebuilding process. We wouldn’t have been in a position to sign a player of Jarryd’s stature without the critical support of our major sponsors, in particular Aquis as our naming rights partner, and TripADeal who have helped make this signing possible.
“We expect Jarryd’s presence will significantly increase corporate and membership interest which will further boost the club's future commercial prospects," Annesley concluded.
Head coach Neil Henry said Hayne will be a great addition to his side and it is a credit to the Titans progress on and off the field that the club has been able to secure such a high-profile player.
“Jarryd is a fantastic player and he will bring a wealth of experience to our team," Henry said.
“We are very pleased that he has decided to join the Titans and I look forward to seeing him reproduce the exciting brand of football he is famous for in the NRL."
Current Titans sponsors, TripADeal, have assisted in securing the signature of Hayne, and are today launching their new service PhoneAFlight of which Jarryd is to become the brand ambassador.
PhoneAFlight Commercial Director, Luke O’Dwyer said: “This is an incredibly exciting announcement, and we are proud to be a key part in Jarryd’s return to Australia, the NRL and better yet, to be playing with the Aquis Gold Coast Titans.
“Our business, PhoneAFlight, focuses on providing a quality concierge service to frequent travellers and small to medium size businesses who don’t want to waste valuable time coordinating their travel needs. Having Jarryd aligned with our brand provides us with a fantastic platform to introduce this exciting new concept to Australia,” O’Dwyer said.