Jarryd Hayne palms Tony Williams during the NRL Rugby League, Round 2 Parramatta Eels v Manly Sea Eagles match at Parramatta Stadium in Sydney, Sunday, March 21, 2010. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan)
He had plenty to say at halftime but by the end Parramatta coach Daniel Anderson was speechless as he attempted to explain the phenomenal Jarryd Hayne effort which lifted the Eels to a 24-20 come from behind win over bitter rivals Manly.
On a day more suited to the beach than a game of footy in Sydney’s west, Hayne rescued an Eels side which looked out for the count and headed for a none from two record when trailing 20-0 just after halftime.
Enter Hayne, who made performances such as the one he was about to deliver a regular occurence over the back end of last season, but who had also looked decidedly scratchy in his first one-and-a-half games of the new campaign.
“Phenomenal, just unbelievable. He just single-handedly turned the game in my opinion,” Anderson said of Hayne.
“He basically wrestled the game out of Manly and into his own possession and we went with him. We’ve had some really big contributors, but Jarryd has been the main man.
“It’s hard to say what Jarryd does in words.”
After another crowd favourite in Fuifui Moimoi had barged over from close range to get the Eels on the board, Hayne took over, instigating a 105-metre try just after the hour when he took a pass in his own in-goal before beating five Manly defenders.
The last defender, former teammate Tony Williams, managed to get Hayne to ground, but from there the reigning Dally M medallist passed for Daniel Mortimer who found Timana Tahu in support, with the dual international scoring his first try since his return to rugby league.
Parramatta’s penultimate four-pointer to Joel Reddy was more than a touch dubious, with the final two passes from Hayne and Kris Keating appearing to go forward.
However, there was no denying Hayne as his no-look cut-out pass for Eric Grothe sealed the stunning win three minutes from time.
“You only have to give him 50-50 chances and he’s going to take them most of the time,” winger Luke Burt – who played his 200th game for Parramatta – said of Hayne.
“We look at him and probably think he’s pretty much invincible when he wants to turn it on like he did this arvo.”
Turn it on Hayne may have done, but Anderson was none too pleased with the opening 50 minutes, as conveyed by veteran forward Nathan Hindmarsh.
“It was a good spray – probably the best we’ve had from him so far,” Hindmarsh recalled.
“(He said) ‘You f…ers think you’re trying out there but you’re not.
“I think it worked – I think we were feeling a bit sorry for ourselves out in the heat out there.”
It looked like Parramatta’s famed nursery was going to come back to haunt them when Eels juniors Williams, Jamie Lyon and debutant halfback Trent Hodkinson all scored in the opening half before a Hodkinson kick set up a Matt Cross four-pointer and a 20-0 lead two minutes into the second stanza.
Manly coach Des Hasler lamented the decisons which went against his side, but after also blowing a 20-4 lead over Wests Tigers in round one, the 2008 premiers are now bringing up the rear of the table.
“Its just momentum really and some crucial decisions that went against us,” Hasler said of the surrender.
“They (the players) know the score – we have to win next week – next week is massive for us.”
Snapshot of NRL round two
Snapshot of NRL round two:
THEY SAID IT: “I’ll personally pay for those two touchies to visit OPSM and get a check-up because I didn’t know we’d reverted to grid iron, not once but twice, at a pretty critical part of the game.” – Manly coach DES HASLER on two marginal passes in the lead-up to Eels centre Joel Reddy’s 73rd minute try.
STAT THAT MATTERS: 21 – the number of penalties blown in a tedious Souths-Titans Friday night clash.
MAN OF THE ROUND: Brett Morris – the St George Illawarra winger bags three tries of his own to win the battle of the Morris household.
MAGIC MOMENT: Warriors man mountain Manu Vatuvei’s first of three tries against Cronulla on Saturday. The ball passes through 10 sets of hands, 70m downfield and from side to side as the Kiwi side post an early candidate for try of the year.
TALKING POINT: Ricky Stuart has nominated Mitchell Pearce but who should captain NSW in this year’s State of Origin series?
JUDICIARY WATCH: Souths: Beau Champion (lifting tackle). Melbourne: Adam Blair (striking). Warriors: James Maloney and Lewis Brown (lifting tackle). Eels: Justin Poore (high tackle).
KEY INJURIES: Bulldogs: Michael Hodgson (knee), Mickey Paea (knee). Titans: Ashley Harrison (leg). Panthers: Travis Burns (knee), Luke Lewis (leg). Knights: Cory Paterson (hamstring). Tigers: Robert Lui (ankle), Gareth Ellis (leg).
UNDER PRESSURE: Canterbury. The 2009 high-flyers have lost their opening two playing pretty poorly and Ben Hannant wanting out wouldn’t be helping.
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