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)
Does any one player stir more water cooler talk than the enigmatic force that is Jarryd Hayne? In Origin 3, Jarryd sent an irrefutable message to his critics that he still has the capacity to decimate teams in an almost single-handed fashion.
When Hayne throws away the millstone that is his casual nature and decides it’s time to hop aboard the Hayne train, there’s very little a team can do to run him off his rails.
The young fullback was superb against the Cowboys on Monday night, demonstrating once again why Parramatta were so successful towards the end of last season.
The purists are bound to say that it doesn’t mean much to slice a team like the Cowboys up because they are the worst defensive team in the comp.
To those detractors I pose this question, how do you explain Hayne cutting through the most elite force of cane toads the Queenslanders have ever produced?
The fact of the matter is, they can’t.
Love him or hate him, Hayne will no doubt continue to be the type of player who can ignite at a seconds notice, and whose flame can extinguish just as easily.
I hope his fire burns for the rest of 2010 because there is very little that compares to this Eels dynamo in full flight.
Willy
Guest
Can't agree with you on Hodgson - he was the complete package, and better than Hayne in every way. And a champion bloke to boot.
oikee
Guest
He is a absolute Beast, what is he, 21- 22, by the time he reaches his peak, he will be talked about as one of the best we have seen. I seen Big Mal at his age, and he was simalar to Hayne, but Hayne is showing slightly more potential. Give him time. What about Uarte, he is leading the line breaks. Give him time also.
James
Guest
I've met him, he's very soft spoken and has a very gentle demenour...and actually comes across as rather shy.
Stormybill
Guest
I take your point Scarecrow about Haynes quality of team mates and I do enjoy watching him play.I have been to every home game Slater has played in Melb and I can tell you he is the one who lifts team mates and crowd alike.I don't need reminded about rorting it will cause me (and many like me)pain for ever.
Nick
Guest
good fella hayne
Scarecrow
Guest
Turn it up Willy. Anderson experimented with Hayne at No.6 because he was their best attacking option, not because of so-called deficiencies. When that failed miserably, they shifted him to the centre or wing positions. Yes, Hayne is at his best during broken field play and fullback is where Anderson (and the rest of the coaching staff) eventually decided he would be best utilised. He's not a natural fullback but is a far superior attacking fullback than Patten, Hodgson, McKinnon and Jack. Slater has had the luxury of playing with the likes of Smith, Inglis and Cronk but I'll admit he's the closest to Hayne in regards to attacking instincts.
Willy
Guest
He's a good attacking player - but he's no fullback, and was shown up defensively over and over again in the Origin. Compare his positional play in defence and on kick returns to natural fullbacks like Slater, Patten, Hodgson, McKinnon and (going back a few years!) Garry Jack. Last season Daniel Anderson tried to turn him into a No. 6 because he, like so many people, could see Hayne's obvious deficiencies at fullback. It's a tricky one though, because he loves that broken field running so much...
oikee
Guest
If they lose the next 5 games, i am still a fan of the Hayne train. That 50 metre burst was sensational, a highlights package for years to come. :)
Scarecrow
Guest
Settle down Stormybill. Give the kid a break. Slater has been playing with the likes of Smith, Inglis and Cronk (do I even have to remind you about the rorting that's taken place to keep them together?). Hayne hasn't got a supporting cast of that calibre. Put Slater in his place with the current Eels outfit and let's see if he can reproduce the same highlights that you keep drooling about.
Stormybill
Guest
He had a good game against the worst team in the comp.Get Real he will never be in the same class as Billy Slater who does these things week in and out.
M1tch
Roar Guru
If he does it at the start of next season and through-out the year its the Hayney season, otherwise is scattered Howers
Daniel
Guest
Watching him sprint onto the ball, then sail around Bowen to score is a sight i'll remember for a long time. Not many better sights in the sporting landscape!
TammyS
Guest
Agree with James...nice to see some positive stuff written about Hayne for a change. I still reckon Hayne at his best is better than any other fullback in the country. Hopefully he keeps up the good form
James
Guest
Nice to see a positive article about him....instead of the sad and cheap Tall-Poppy cutting that so often goes on.