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After a successful appearance as five-eighth last week, Jarryd Hayne has been relegated back to fullback ahead of Parramatta’s clash against Penrith on Saturday night. Which begs the question: is being at Parramatta holding back this dynamic player from all he can be?
I was sceptical when I heard Hayne would be playing five-eighth, opposite arguably the world’s best in Benji Marshall last week.
Ricky Stuart might have said Hayne was more suited to the five-eighth position rather than fullback, and these sentiments might have been shared by Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns, but after the 2009 five-eighth experiment fell in a heap, I still had my doubts.
Well, Hayne proved all the doubters wrong.
Against Wests Tigers, Hayne was more than impressive in the No. 6.
Throughout the game, he displayed the strength, speed and skill on the line that everyone knew he had in him. His kicks in play were clever as well as crafty.
His passing was pinpoint and intelligent.
He made and took more tackles than he was probably used to, but did not succumb to the added workload and set up a handful of tries in their 22-6 victory over the struggling Tigers.
Eels players and the media tipped Hayne to be given another crack in the halves against the Panthers. Yet Kearney has put Hayne down as the fullback for this weekend, and once again Parramatta fans will be deprived of seeing Hayne in the jersey number he shines so brightly in.
Sure, he’s still playing in the team, but it’s not where he belongs.
It’d be like putting Harry Kewell in goal, or having Jonathan Brown as a half-back flanker.
He’s been widely criticised at times for not getting involved for long periods in a game. At five eighth, he wouldn’t have that choice to sit back.
Hayne is a versatile player perfectly capable of playing fullback, five-eighth, wing, and centre. But there is a consensus among NRL watchers that more time with the ball could take his talent to an all new level.
And five-eighth is the position to make it happen.
To be fair, with an abundance of halves options, it’s no easy task for Parramatta coach Stephen Kearney right now.
Halfback Jeff Robson will return for the Eels this weekend, overcoming a hamstring injury which saw him omitted from the side, with Casey McGuire returning to the five-eighth spot.
While Robson will be heading to the Sharks next season, and McGuire’s one-year contract will be up (though he’s hopeful of staying with the Eels), the club has snapped up the signatures of Souths playmaker Chris Sandow and Bulldog and New Zealand international Ben Roberts for the 2012 season.
Coming back from a two-year suspension Reni Maitua also had a successful run at five-eighth for Parramatta a few weeks back against Brisbane. And let’s not forget the Eels still have within their ranks the 2009 wonder kid Daniel Mortimer, who when in form is a fine, fine talent.
So where does that leave Hayne?
Held back is where it leaves him.
Hayne is signed at the Eels until 2013, and as much as I like a one club player, you have to wonder if Hayne is at all tempted to explore his options at other clubs.
Some have said he’s not ready for the five-eighth position; others say he’s too young. Perhaps Hayne himself doesn’t want it just yet either?
We’ve frequently heard the phrase in the media that fullback is Hayne’s “preferred position” but he finds himself in the ruck most games anyway. Maybe he’s just not ready to carry the weight of responsibility the No. 6 jersey holds?
Kearney has not completely ignored Hayne’s talent, with the coach again preparing the Origin superstar to be second receiver against Penrith.
Nevertheless, the message I’m getting from Eels fans, and NRL supporters in general, is that Hayne should be at five-eighth in a regular capacity. His stint at it in 2009 may have failed, but he is such a bigger and better player now.
It’s the right time for him to make the change, step up and be all he can be.
If he’s not going to get that opportunity at Parramatta, then maybe he should consider moving on. Parramatta has an ace card every other NRL club would kill for, yet they’re not unleashing its full potential.
Eels hooker Matt Keating told a press conference last week that: “If he’s at one or he’s at six, it doesn’t really matter. He’s good to have in your team.”
This may be true. But it still makes you think, “What if?”
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