GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 26: Jarryd Hayne of the Titanslooks on during the round 25 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Canterbury Bulldogs at Cbus Super Stadium on August 26, 2017 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

With only a few days until the NRL 2017 decider, attention and discussion for the majority of fans has turned to 2018 and beyond. More specifically player signings for 2018 and beyond.

A few days ago, well-known Rugby League personality the NRL Mole wrote that Jarryd Hayne may be in talks with the Sharks with a view to the Titans superstar making a move to the Shire.

As with most player rumours, social media lit up and was split pretty much down the middle.

Some Sharks fans took to multiple platforms to claim that the word would end should Hayne sign to wear black, white and blue from next season, while others couldn't hide their smiles as the thought of Hayne linking up with the likes of Holmes and Dugan.

The talk was cut short though when the Sharks official Twitter account took the unusual step of releasing a statement that the Sharks had not, and would not be making an offer to the Titans number one.

The move in itself is not all that strange really, but considering this week alone the Sharks have been linked with Brett Morris, Angus Crichton and Matt Moylan, among others, why did the Sharks feel the need to come out and shut down the Hayne rumour?

In years gone by, not only would it be a 99/1 split towards jumping for joy at the thought of Hayne pulling on the club colours, but clubs would revel in being linked to the NSW mainstay as simply being linked to Hayne was good business.

Yet in 2017 a twitter account went out of its way to distance the club from the rumour.

Yes, rightly or wrongly, Hayne is viewed as a divisive player due to the current circumstances on the Gold Coast. For the record I don't buy into blaming one player for a bad season, the Titans woes go way beyond that of Hayne's performances.

Has his stock fallen so much that clubs linked to his signature want to distance themselves?

After all, this is a genuine match-winning player, at all levels of the game, we are talking about.

An international, cross-code, superstar known by millions across the world. His image is absolutely everywhere. He is a megastar of the game.

Sure, he didn't have the greatest season last year on the holiday strip, but Jarrod Wallace aside, who did?

Kevin Proctor was nowhere near as dangerous as he had been while wearing purple. The Titans young halves struggled, with Kane Elgey especially falling way behind.

Ryan James couldn't live up to his incredible 2016 season, although that probably says more about his ridiculous 2016 output than any great loss of form.

It's hardly a case of 16 members of the Titans squad firing with Hayne bringing them down.

I'd still be more than happy should Hayne, perhaps subsidised by the Titans for at least the first year, make his way to my club. This is a guy who has torn teams to shreds in the past, and certainly showed he still has it even last year.

The Sharks didn't make any great errors with their tweet. They truthfully mentioned they're not looking at signing Hayne. I bet more club officials wish they could issue similar statements when linked with players, but it is very strange that this rumour, much like 30 others this week, was not simply ignored.

Perhaps it was just something the Sharks wanted to shut down as reports of Matt Moylan's possible arrival gather steam?

Maybe it was to ensure Valentine Holmes, the Sharks current custodian, is not thrown off by reports?

Maybe it was just coincidence?

But it sure was strange.

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