It has been well documented that the Board of the Parramatta Eels club has held Jarryd Hayne in high regard and as the most suitable player to lead the team for the 2013 season.
Ever since Nathan Hindmarsh’s retirement from rugby league early last year, Hayne’s name was in the mix for the captaincy job.
This idea would have been fully endorsed by failed NSW Origin Coach and 2013 Parramatta Coach, Ricky Stuart, whom has a soft spot for Hayne, after coaching him for several years with NSW.
The theory is, that by giving Hayne the captaincy role, it would give him the drive to inspire a team and possibly lead the Eels to victory. Sounds good in theory, but is Hayne ready for this sort of responsibility?
Fast forward a year from Hindmarsh’s retirement announcement and Jarryd Hayne and Reni Maitua are the co-captains for the 2013 season.
Tim Mannah, who had been captain in the 2012 season in Hindmarsh’s absence, has been asked to take a back seat while he still maintains a senior role.
Although Hayne recognised that Mannah would be a great fit for captain early in the 2012 season, he has accepted the responsibility with arms wide open, which may seem as bit of a slap in the face for Mannah.
Although the season is early, there have need question marks raised already with regard to how Hayne has handled the captaincy role.
The season for the Eels started well and it appeared that the Eels board’s theory was correct. The Eels dismantled the New Zealand Warriors, with Hayne scoring three tries.
The following week Hayne failed to convert critical plays which saw the Eels go down to the Bulldogs. This is by no means a reflection of Hayne’s captaincy however had he converted those opportunities, how he handled Friday night’s game against the Tigers may have been far different.
The next match, where the Eels took on the Tigers, was where Hayne showed his true captaincy colours. This was an error-filled match for the Eels who spilled the ball early in their sets, gave away turn over after turn over only to be ravaged by an all attacking Wests Tigers outfit.
This pent up frustration led Hayne to show his frustration by inappropriately talking to the ref and making quick-fire, shoot from the hip decisions.
I was surprised to hear Phil Gould comment on Hayne’s lack of leadership qualities displayed in that game.
For someone as biased towards Hayne as Gould to make that kind of statement really shows that Hayne is not ready for the responsibilities of being a captain.
Hayne is still very much an individual player with great individual brilliance (at times) and it’s highly unlikely this brilliance is going to alter his character, especially when the chips are down.
Being a captain is rarely something that is taught. It is something that is inherent in the character of a person.
Players like Darren Lockyer and Cameron Smith who consistently put the team first and make clear and calm decisions under pressure are one of a kind. To bestow the captain’s responsibility on Jarryd Hayne and expect Lockyer/Smith results is a tough ask.
Hopefully in the games to come Hayne will understand what it takes to lead a team and the Eels can string a few wins together.
falseemail fiftyeight
Guest
I have never believed that Hayne has the personality to be THE captain - most teams have a leadership group - this is where Hayne is best suited. Haynes personality on the football field is exactly like his playing style - explosive and unpredictable. Not the qualities that "great leaders" possess. Not knocking his seniority on the Parra team, nor his football ability - does he have the personality that MEN gravitate for inspiration, particularly when under duress or stressful situation - no I don't think so Hayne is a STAR and has a star's type personality. Nothing wrong with that in a team sport - STARS are you go to guys that can WIN games - but this again is not the personality of a leader. A classic example is Cameron Smith....or even Steve Edge - both personalities are the complete OPPOSITE of Haynes - yet both truly Leaders, nobody can argue against their captaincy role in teams FULL of STARS
Michael Waldron
Roar Rookie
Hayne goes missing when the going gets tough, he also has a propensity to throw his toys out of the cot, as per last round's match. They really need to be picking someone like Mannah as captain.
Haz
Guest
With all due respect, that's rubbish. "Best Player" doesn't equate to "Leadership" "Best Player" doesn't equal "Able to handle responsibility" "Best Player" doesn't equate to "Ambassador" "Best Player" doesn't equal "Captain" Last year, Luke Lewis was certainly a better player than Kevin Kingston, but Kevin Kingston seems to be a better captain. I think choosing Simon Mannering over Benji Marshall as NZ captain will prove to be just such a move. Cross-code example: Alessandro Del Piero is by far the best player at Sydney FC (no disrespect to any other player), but Terry McFlynn is the club captain. There's a good reason for that. You don't make the best player captain, you make the person who has the players respect. Players don't just respect talent, they respect pure hard work and total commitment. Your comment shows a massive disrespect for Nathan Cayless and Nathan Hindmarsh.
turbodewd
Guest
If you could put Billy Slater's work ethic in Jarryd Hayne you'd have quite a deadly player! I think Hayne at any given time is only operating on 75% of his potential.
Cameron
Roar Guru
You've emphasised your point quite well :). But you're not an Eels supporter, so its ok.
brother mouzone
Guest
I WOULD BLOW UP IF I WAS AN EELS SUPPORTER,GET RID OF THIS NUMPTY AND INVEST IN PEOPLE HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS.HE GOES MISSING TOO MUCH AND,HIS LACK OF WORK ETHIC IS A BAD EXAMPLE TO YOUNGER PLAYERS
Ryot
Guest
Lol, i read this article and said you have to be a queensland supporter. What do you know I looked at your profile and there it is. Gould has been critical of hayne for seasons and seasons, sure he had a lovefest with him in 09 but who didn't, hayne's per game stats are simply better than any other fullback in terms of CVS that goes for every season including last year. He has consistently been one of if not the best player in albeit a beaten blues outfit for years and has 140 odd games under his belt at 25. Lockyer wasn't a composed 25 year old either at this stage he was just making the move to 5/8 and had yet solidified the position. Hayne has a lot to prove as a captain, but he's essentially been the captain for the past four years he's the one that has lead every pregame/midgame huddle he isn't used to dealing with the refs yet but it's his third game cut him some slack.
damoinaus
Roar Pro
In my mind, a captain should have at least the following three attributes: 1. Be a leader of men and commit to putting your mind and body to tasks that others won't 2. Be an excellent ambassador for the club, and be outstanding with the spoken word - not just being able to share a message and a vision with the players, but also with the public via the media. 3. Be an outstanding performer on the field. Hayne possesses none of these attributes at this present stage. I would have said that a change of club and scenery would be the best thing for him - but he's just signed again with the Eels.
turbodewd
Guest
Gould has actually questioned Hayne's attitude in 2 matches in a row. I recorded both the Eels v Bulldogs and Eels v Tigers game. I also recorded the Storm v Bulldogs game from last week. I watch Slater and Hayne and made notes. Slater injects himself into the action a lot and in defense he runs around to get into position or to cover where the ball is heading. His workrate is high and his hustle is top notch. Hayne is MIA! He walks around so much its not funny. He rarely backs up his winger and is rarely there to be dummy half or take a hitup. He dawdles in defence. Even in attack last week he was bad. Hayne lacks hustle! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DrNG1TzBxzY FFwd to 22:31 - if anyone can explain to me who Hayne was marking; how he fell for a nothing dummy; and why he slid to the ground. Leaves me gobsmacked.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Ricky Stuart was hardly a failed Origin coach. He was the coach at the head of the last Blues series win and got us to within a point of winning it again. Mannah is the club captain and takes care of all media commitments, something that neither Hayne nor Maitua are good at. Hayne is a young captain and has been backed by both Nathan Hindmarsh and the NRL's most experienced captain ever in Nathan Cayless. In the Tigers match Hayne was the only captain, Maitua was injured. I was skeptical when he was given the captaincy however he will grow into it. Hayne has been talking with both Wayne Bennett and Darren Lockyer in regards to the captaincy and Hayne has said he wants to be the next Darren Lockyer captaincy wise. Hayne is a talented footballer and will grow into this role. It didn't fit Cayless right when he was awarded it but he became one of the most respected captains in NRL history.