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Hayne Plane shoots down GI for best NRL player in the world title

15th August, 2014
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Jarryd Hayne (Grant Trouville/nrlphotos.com)
Roar Pro
15th August, 2014
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This year we have had the privilege of seeing some of the best individual performances on a rugby league field, and there have been a number of players lighting it up each week with their freakish talent and ability.

Among the elite group, however, ther have been none better than superstar fullbacks Greg Inglis and Jarryd Hayne.

So this begs the question, who is the better player? Who deserves all the accolades? Does it even matter? Or are we simply tricked into believing that this battle of the fullbacks is even close at all?

Hayne has played 17 games for the Parramatta Eels, scoring 17 tries and gaining 3163 metres from 257 runs. He has also made 21 line breaks and his team sit in ninth with 26 points.

Inglis has helped South Sydney to first place on the NRL ladder, with 32 points, and has scored 10 tries in 18 games. He has also posted 2680 metres from 256 runs and 13 line breaks.

So what do these stats tell us?

Basically, Jarryd Hayne has Greg Inglis covered in three major statistical categories- tries, metres gained and line breaks.

These stats are reflective of the season Hayne is having. Let’s not forget how well this bloke is going even in the aftermath of Greg Inglis’ dominant three-try performance against the Broncos.

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It’s no surprise that Hayne leads Inglis in those three statistical categories, Hayne has to shoulder far more of the attacking workload due to the lack of talent around him.

Inglis is surrounded by superstars and is playing for a South Sydney side that will go close winning the comp. With the likes of Sam Burgess, Ben Te’o, John Sutton, Adam Reynolds and upcoming future starts like Dylan Walker and Alex Johnston, Inglis doesn’t need to be best on ground week-in, week-out.

The Bunnies don’t rely on him to single-handedly win games. Sure we see flashes of brilliance in each game but his dominant performances are few and far between.

Hayne is another story. For him the expectation and pressure to perform is higher than most stars in the game, he needs to score 17 tries in the season and have almost 1000 extra metres gained than Inglis because there is no one else to do it at Parramatta.

Parramatta need Hayne at his best every game and he can’t afford him to have a lazy match or quiet performance, like Inglis is accused of having occasionally. Parramatta are only at their best when Hayne is, and this season no one can argue that.

Hayne’s performance this year is reminiscent of his dominant 2009 season, in which he easily took home the Dally M Medal for player of the year. He looks like winning the coveted medal again. His combination of speed and skill has been on show in recent weeks and has the Eels competing for a surprise finals spot.

Now by no means am I comparing the two fullbacks’ overall careers, Hayne has been a part of eight losing NSW State of Origin campaigns and only played a handful of NRL finals games. Inglis has achieved nearly everything in the game, with a legit premiership that last thing on his list.

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The biggest difference between these two fullbacks this season is consistency. Hayne can play 80 minutes of attacking and intense football and still has the energy to make try-saving tackles.

In Round 6 Hayne was at his best against the defending premiers Sydney Roosters. He made two miraculous try-saving tackles on superstar back rower Sonny Bill-Williams, while also setting up winger Ken Sio for a double in the tight fought 14 -12 win.

Hayne was brilliant in several losses this year too, his performance against both the Cowboys and Panthers in a losing side was inspirational.

While the Eels have struggled this year they certainly are a far cry from the wooden spoon, and it’s all because of Jarryd Hayne.

How he has got this team to within in a whisker of the top eight is nothing short of a miracle.

Inglis is more suited to an explosive brand of football and only injects himself when he can see the right opportunity, which in some games can be as little as four to five occasions.

Inglis showed us glimpses of his ability through a phenomenal solo effort, his length-of-the-field run-away try against the Broncos in Round 8 was one of the best individual efforts you will ever see in rugby league. He showed off his raw power and speed by bumping off would be defenders, stepping and dancing his way down field for a spectacular 90-metre try.

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The 27-year-old is part of the most dominant Queensland side of all time and arguably the greatest rugby league team. He has one of the strongest forward packs in 10 years at the Bunnies and played most of his career with the likes of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Darren Lockyer, players who had the ability to make the people around them perform better.

This season has been somewhat different as he has been called upon a lot more to provide his team with a spark or make a game-changing play. It has not been as smooth sailing as recent years and the South Sydney’s premiership window is slowly closing.

In saying that Greg Inglis has stepped up to the plate a few times this season and has not disappointed, his huge physical presence and speed is a deadly combination that demands the attention of any worthy defender. Lately, Inglis has been getting the better of his opponents, but I’m not sure his consistency is there yet and he is certainly not on the same level as Hayne.

It would be interesting if Hayne had the opportunity to play in some of the talented teams that Inglis was lucky enough to be a part of. Would he have achieved the same success? Or if Inglis went to a team with half the talent, would he able to dominate the game like he does now or would he crumble under the pressure?

So which fullback is better? Hayne for my mind is not only the premier fullback in the game right now but the most in-form player in the NRL. His freakish stats speak for themselves, and his ability to create something from nothing when his side needs it is second to none.

The fact Hayne is in better form this year than he was in his famous 2009 season speaks volumes about how good he is travelling this season. Inglis, while scoring some spectacular tries, isn’t on the same level as Hayne right now. His huge game against the Broncos was impressive, but he has struggled to back those stellar performances up.

I’m applauding Hayne for never giving up, for never taking a backwards step even after back-to-back wooden spoons and so many embarrassing loses. He has every excuse for his team to be sitting on the bottom of the ladder but the Parramatta Eels are vying for a finals appearance.

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While Hayne hasn’t enjoyed the luxuries of world class forwards and dominant back lines he has still managed to maintain a mental toughness and unrelenting commitment to be better. He has still dominated the sport like a winner and has once again shown us why he is the best player in the world.

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