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No Hayne, no gain for the Parramatta Eels

Roar Rookie
16th October, 2014
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Jarryd Hayne is off to play at the Gold Coast Titans. (Photo by Colin Whelan copyright © nrlphotos.com).
Roar Rookie
16th October, 2014
7

The Parramatta faithful are in distress, and the bookies aren’t doing them any favours.

As the Hayne Plane takes off for the USA, the Blue and Gold are in crisis. And if you look at the TAB’s odds for Parramatta’s 2015 season, you’d probably agree.

Jarryd Hayne’s departure has seen the Eels drift from a cosy $26 to a disastrous $51. Of course at the end of the day, the odds don’t mean much, but they do tell a tale of how shot the Eels are without their electric fullback.

As harsh as it may seem, Hayne single handedly carried the Eels through the season and NSW to a drought breaking victory. The Hayne-less Eels have been set at a $1.25 to miss the top eight for the sixth straight year.

The reigning Dally M Medallist, the Eels co-captain and true x-factor of their team has left a gigantic gap in the Parramatta Eels that has set the rumour mill alight. First off the bat is Josh Hoffman, one of Brisbane’s many fullbacks and has been searching for a year to get a gig somewhere wearing the no. 1.

Then, you’ve got Reece Robinson who signed with the Eels hours after Hayne’s departure. Finally, Brett Stewart. While Stewart has been linked to the Bulldogs and Canberra, Stewart’s connection with former Manly assistant Brad Arthur, old teammate Will Hopoate and the incoming Anthony Watmough – coupled with his recent request for release – has gotten the fan’s buzzing.

That’s not even mentioning the Israel Folau rumours.

It’s a terrible way for the Eels to start their preseason, with the faithful fans set go into panic stations for the next five months as they scour and scrutinise the NRL for a brand new superstar.

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It will be five months of pure torture for a club starved of success in recent years. There are also whispers of Parramatta possibly collecting their third wooden spoon in four years.

A look at Hayne’s stats for 2014 tell the tale of the gaping wound left Parra’s roster by Hayne’s departure. With 20 tries in 21 games, 188 metres a game and over 20 linebreaks in total.

And that’s just Parramatta. The game is losing a State of Origin champion and a Dally M Medallist.

The Hayne Plane has flown the coup and left the Parramatta fans with jet burn. So how do Parramatta not only fill a gap, but prove themselves a genuine contender for the 2015 title?

Only time can tell if the Eels will fly without Hayne.

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