Hayne set to burn Titans with devious tactic?

A new report claims Jarryd Hayne will be playing for the Eels in 2018, but there's 180,000 reasons why he hasn't told the Titans yet.

According to News Corp, Hayne has already agreed to return to his former club next year, but is delayed asking Gold Coast for a release so he can snare two more pay cheques from the Titans.

Currently on World Cup duty with Fiji, Hayne is due to return to the Titans for pre-season training in the new year.

But with the NRL's financial year starting on November 1, Hayne's million-dollar Titans contract for 2018 has already started.

Hayne is due to be paid $90,000 on November 30 and December 30 as part of his monthly salary, but if he was to ask for an immediate release to Parramatta, he would be forfeiting the $180,000 he is owed for the rest of this year.

Considering Hayne is facing a significant pay cut to return to the Eels, believed to be about $500,000, that $180,000 is a fairly big incentive to keep the Titans hanging on until the very last minute.

"Jarryd Hayne will be signing with the Parramatta Eels," Phil Rothfield told NRL 360 on Monday night.

"This money will allow him to take the pay cut and sign with Parramatta."

Last month Titans captain Ryan James said he had 'no doubt' Hayne was staying put, saying Jarryd had sent text messages to his teammates attempting to dismiss reports that he wants to leave.

"I'm expecting him to come back. He said on the WhatsApp he hasn't spoken to anyone," James said.

"He's kept in contact with all of us ... I've got no doubt (he'll remain at the Titans) from what he's said to us. Hopefully that's what happens."

Hayne's fractured relationship with Neil Henry was a factor in the coach's axing last season, while his indifferent form contributed to the Titans finishing second-last in 2017.

Before the reports surfaced, Hayne was expected to honour the final year of his contract under new coach Garth Brennan and newly-hired support staff Hayden Knowles and Craig Catterick.

with AAP