Do Eels need to let the Hayne Plane leave ?
By Mick H, 28 Jun 2012 Mick H is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Jarryd Hayne, NRL, Parramatta Eels, Rugby League
Jarryd Hayne in action for the Eels. AAP Image/Action Photographics, Renee McKay
Related coverage
The Parramatta Eels sit last on the NRL competition ladder for 2012. The Eels have stayed in that position all year and look like a big chance of staying there until they collect the spoon from the Titans at the end of the year.
When we talk Parramatta we talk really of one player, Jarryd Hayne. Jarryd Hayne is without doubt the most divisive player in the NRL, not only within the Parramatta faithful but also NRL fans in general.
There is no better example then when Hayne was picked for this year’s first Origin, with many NSW fans arguing his selection was not warranted based on his form. I strongly disagreed with those suggestions, but why you ask ?
Well, I’m glad you asked.
Hayne is a spontaneous player and really only fires on two occasions, firstly when there is a try near by or secondly when he is interested in the game in which he plays. Sitting lowly on the NRL table has seen his interest drop in club matches, however put him in the sky blue jumper and he is double the player, the player Parra want every week.
This attitude adopted by Hayne seems to be the biggest problem facing the young star, at the moment and potentially in the future. Hayne seems to know exactly how good he is and this is a time bomb for Parramatta.
Consider how much interest from other clubs would be generated if he wanted to leave, especially if he wanted to move to the northern beaches (if Brett Stewart followed the rugby union money, for example), or if he wished to move a team capable of winning a premiership sooner than Parramatta look at the moment, furthermore consider how much Parramatta payed for Chris Sandow, who has not play State of Origin nor is as a proven player as Hayne, all these factors could cause serious friction when contract renegotiations come around.
In saying that there is no doubt of Hayne’s talent, the 2009 fairytale is testament to that as well as some freakish tries and skills seen in various situations that puts a smile on your face and goosebumps down your neck.
Hayne is without doubt Parramatta’s best player and has been for some time now, the issue is whether Hayne’s attitude of ” do as I please ” is best for the club, particularly with Kearney’s coaching style.
Kearney’s coaching style, based on the philosophy of both Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett is one of well a oiled machine, in a well formulated structure with no use for those who want be something better or outside that structure.
Media speculation often suggests Hayne has an attitude problem, even Phil Gould agreeing and calling for the “phonebox” conversation, to adjust his egotism, however the last coach to bring up his attitude problem was Daniel Anderson to the furor of fans and ultimately the board, leading to his sacking.
Maybe it is all too easy to pick on Jarryd Hayne in a struggling side, or maybe the Hayne Plane is too big for Parramatta.
![]()
Passionate about your league? Then sign up to The Roar's brand new daily league email, delivering Roaring articles directly to you day-in, day-out. You'll love it!
Click here to join now!
Looking to join The Roar team? We're searching for an experienced Group Sales Manager to lead our team in Sydney. Yes, this does mean you get to work with the site all day long! If you're a digital media sales star, we want to hear from you. Apply now.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Rugby League articles
- How to increase crowd numbers in the NRL (181)
- All I am saying is give Pearce a chance (123)
- Let me tell you why people don’t like Manly (116)
- Why do NRL fans love empty seats? (115)
- Ease up on ASADA: NRL boss (91)
- It’s time for Channel Nine to get serious about the NRL (90)
- Six things that will improve the NRL (85)
- Brett Morris good to go for NSW (2)
- Another NRL mistake: the shoulder charge (16)
- Maloney’s selection is not building NSW’s dynasty (16)
- Did the NSW selectors get it wrong? Don’t be so sure (28)
- Te’o very focused says Souths NRL coach (3)
- Gallen backs axed Carney to bounce back
- Manly run over Raiders (25)
- Another NRL mistake: the shoulder charge (16)
- Maloney’s selection is not building NSW’s dynasty (16)
- Did the NSW selectors get it wrong? Don’t be so sure (28)
- Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm: NRL live scores, blog (107)
- Manly Sea Eagles vs Canberra Raiders: NRL live scores, blog (98)
- St George-Illawarra Dragons vs Penrith Panthers: NRL live scores, blog (110)
- Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys: Live Scores (26)
Recommend this story.
- Explore:
- Jarryd Hayne, NRL, Parramatta Eels, Rugby League


June 28th 2012 @ 6:40am
steve b said | June 28th 2012 @ 6:40am | Report comment
Its funny how people expect Hayne to be the one saviour for Parra ,,its a team effort when you have a team of all stars running with you like the SOO squad they create chances to show what he is capable of ,, but when a team is not performing then its so much harder to create anything and lets face it Parra have not been creating many chances for the guy this year..And when they have he has delivered ,,Parra have many problems Hayne is not one of them,,Fix our admin and find a coach that fits in with the majority of the players and we will be back in the mix before you know it..And i hope its sooner than later..
June 28th 2012 @ 10:55am
Mick H said | June 28th 2012 @ 10:55am | Report comment
Agree Steve, Parramatta have seem like a team and club without direction arguably since The Emperor left. This can be seen on the field, through the coaching merry-go-round and very little leadership coming from any board members or the CEO.
No doubt this would impact all the players, and maybe enough for Hayne to look somewhere else ? But I guess if he wants a decent board that rules out my Manly move theory ! : P
June 28th 2012 @ 8:11pm
Sir Lemon Goat said | June 28th 2012 @ 8:11pm | Report comment
Also you forgot good recruitment of forwards. Why did you pay Lussick so much when you couldve bought Tasi and Masoe from the Roosters at a simiar price. Why arent you getting Matt Ballin you have the worst hooker. Fix your hooker. 5/8 has been fixed you cant kick out Sandow until the deal finishes so get a back-up halfback. Also new coach, board. IMO fix your forward pack in general. If Matt Ryan were to play for Rosters, Souths, Warriors, Storm, Broncos hed be in NSW or QLD cup but at Eels he gets an extension shows the quality of the team fix your forwards NOW!
June 28th 2012 @ 8:41am
Todd de Sydney said | June 28th 2012 @ 8:41am | Report comment
Everyone needs to stop trying to ‘figure out’ Jarryd Hayne, just give him the ball !!!!!!!
I honestly beleive that Hayne is better than anyone else before him and it hurts that is does not show in every game.
He is wasted in a crap team under Kearney and even more wasted on the wing by R Stuart who thinks he is a 5/8 anyway.
June 28th 2012 @ 8:48am
gold coast eel said | June 28th 2012 @ 8:48am | Report comment
What a lot of people tendto forgot is back in 2009 Hayne was only 21 and now is only 24.You tell me of any other sportsman in Australia that has constantly been in the media like he has over the last 4 years.He is a freakish athlete he I admit at times looks a little disinterested but I would not swap him for anyone.He has the ability to make other players better but as Steve said the other players need to lift as well.You cant just jump on the PLANE and expect a free ride
June 28th 2012 @ 9:46am
Bennis said | June 28th 2012 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Give Hayne a break, its hardly his fault the Eels are rubbish. How about the Tonga brothers signed to big deals that havent done anything, Sandow & Roberts are both horrible & then they have guys like Justin Poore signed on around $400 000 contracts.
The team is such a rabble that in fairness Hayne being there or not being there probably doesnt matter much. But I have the feeling that the Eels management would just take the salary cap from Hayne and spend it on other dead beats and be where they are now anyway.
There seems to be an ever increasing gap between the clubs that can develop their own talent and the clubs that need to buy other peoples. Teams like the Warriors and Melbourne seem to churn out quality youngsters every year.
June 28th 2012 @ 11:03am
Mick H said | June 28th 2012 @ 11:03am | Report comment
Great comment. Couldn’t agree more.
The worst thing about the Sandow and Roberts buys is the fact that they knew one was an average player (Roberts) and a ” rocks and diamonds ” player in Sandow and yet still threw the money, as though they have never had so much in their lives.
The Tonga brothers haven’t had a decent chance, been unlucky through injuries, hopefully we see what they’re capable of soon and next season or two.
And Justin Poore hasn’t looked half the player he was at St’s for whatever reason. There seems to be a trend of players who do not reach their potential at Parramatta and do far better once they move to another club, take Robinson at Cronulla for example, surely there is behind the scenes action that is impacting many players performance, and as Wayne Bennett says you should never pay over 300k for a forward !
June 28th 2012 @ 3:20pm
Balmainslipperyeel said | June 28th 2012 @ 3:20pm | Report comment
Spot on Mick. How Ben Roberts was recruited is beyond me. Incompetence, insanity, call it what you like. The most unintelligent NRL player i have ever had the displeasure of watching. Has one good game every 2 years.
Christ, the guy couldn’t even challenge Kris Keating for a halves spot at the bulldogs. So what do Parra do? Pay him $200,000 a season. Seriously, there needs to be a thick bristled broom swept through that board room at Parramatta. It’s the blind leading the blind. Denis Fitzgerald was a bit of a .., but at least the club had a competitive, winning culture under his tenure.
June 28th 2012 @ 10:04am
Pot Stirrer said | June 28th 2012 @ 10:04am | Report comment
I doubt any one player could do more than what hayne is to make them the best team they can be. I found it absurd they Hindmarsh could say on national television that haynes form has been down. Hayne is not the problem at the eels, he is the answer if they could get the rest of the team playing decent footy.
June 28th 2012 @ 10:23am
turbodewd said | June 28th 2012 @ 10:23am | Report comment
Hayne is an alpha player with a beta mindset. He needs a rocket up his posterior. I get the impression he is surrounded by Yes men who keep praising him.
Hayne has the talent but lacks Lleyton Hewitt-like hunger and tenacity.
June 28th 2012 @ 12:09pm
Mac said | June 28th 2012 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
Gotta love all you Hayne haters out in force again straight after a golden point win for parra. Beautiful stuff..
June 28th 2012 @ 12:27pm
Bearall said | June 28th 2012 @ 12:27pm | Report comment
I read all you J.H. lovers’ comments but please how can you Parra supporters be really happy with a bloke who really only put in for about 6-8 weeks in 2009 and has been “missing off Nobby’s Head” since. Isn’t consistentcy and reliability key in any team ? Comments of “give him the ball” amaze me – HE IS A FULLBACK ! HE MUST LOOK FOR THE BALL BY CHIMING INTO THE BACKLINE – come and look for the ball matey boy ! Also Mac your comment about the Golden Point win last Saturday – remind me again what HE actually did to inspire that win? He backed up for 1 try is as much as I can remember! i AGREE WITH THE COVER STORY – Maybe Parramatta would be better off without him and use those big bucks to buy wisely or promote from within.
June 28th 2012 @ 12:36pm
Mac said | June 28th 2012 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
Got it all off your chest Bearall? Your version of events is completely different to mine. You say he only put in for 6-8 weeks in 2009. I say he’s consistently the best player in the team and get’s scapegoated by people like you who either have no clue what they are on about or just have a bad case of tall poppy syndrome..And I’m not even a parra supporter..
June 28th 2012 @ 1:13pm
steve b said | June 28th 2012 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Got to agree Mac,,your comments are spot on …
June 28th 2012 @ 3:26pm
Balmainslipperyeel said | June 28th 2012 @ 3:26pm | Report comment
That’s right Mac, anyone who intelligently looks at it and breaks down his stats knows that. People like Bearall put forth their arguments based on popular knee-jerk assumptions and very little thought and actual research. As a result, no one takes what they say seriously.
June 28th 2012 @ 5:43pm
BlueRising said | June 28th 2012 @ 5:43pm | Report comment
So Hayne has been ‘missing’ since 2009….the same Jarryd Hayne who racked up 24 line-break assists and 18 try assists last season? The same Hayne who’s current stats confirm him as one of the most involved players in the game this season…stats don’t lie.
June 28th 2012 @ 2:55pm
Noel said | June 28th 2012 @ 2:55pm | Report comment
Hayne is a hugely talented player . This seems to be the general opinion of the subscribers . However you differ where he should play or with whom. If he needs the help of the other SOR players then maybe he isn’t so good . To be really good he needs to be able to create for others and himself , be a leader , but sadly I don’t think he is . Is this selling him short , I dont think so . Jarrad will never reach his true potential until he can dig in and create for others consistantly . And again , unfortunately , this may not happen while clubs keep frothing at the mouth with compliments to heap on him . Daniel Anderson was on the right track .
June 28th 2012 @ 5:41pm
BlueRising said | June 28th 2012 @ 5:41pm | Report comment
I’ve lost count of how many times i’ve watched Hayne create something for one of his teammates…only for said teammate to fumble the ball
July 2nd 2012 @ 10:35am
gold coast eel said | July 2nd 2012 @ 10:35am | Report comment
Noel so has Hayne never created a Try Assist? Ive lost track over the last 2 years how many times he has thrown the money ball cut out pass and put one of our wingers in the corner untouched.You obviously dont watch many Parra games