Jarryd Hayne has been named for the Eels’ match against the Tigers this weekend and, given how much trouble the Tigers are in, Parramatta has been installed as favourites.
However, do Parramatta deserve a player of Hayne’s calibre? Simply, no. Parramatta have had instability in the coaching and administration ranks since the end of 2006 when Brian Smith left.
In Hayne’s career he has been coached by five separate coaches and he has had to carry the team for the majority of his career.
Parramatta have been lucky to have Hayne, without him they wouldn’t have made the finals since 2007, let alone their grand final appearance in 2009.
Some Eels fans have been saying Parramatta should release Hayne and replace him with younger players as he’s chewing up too much of the cap.
That is a ludicrous idea as without Jarryd, Parramatta will remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the ladder. There is a noted difference in Parramatta’s on-field attitude when Hayne is on the field.
Hayne, like Hindmarsh before him, has papered over the ever increasing cracks in the Parramatta side. Sure the Eels still struggle when he’s on the field but they do threaten more when he plays.
In my opinion Hayne is in the same position Hindmarsh used to be in. His team relies on him too much.
At his best Hayne is the best fullback in the game and can tear any team to shreds but it is just not practical for him to perform at that high level week in, week out with the team he has supporting him.
The constant bickering off the field hasn’t helped. The board is divided but it seems that is slowly being resolved ever so slightly.
Ricky Stuart is doing everything he can at the moment to build a team for long term success and it seems he may be the club’s first long-term coach since Brian Smith.
But at the moment the club doesn’t deserve Hayne. Realistically, the Eels are blessed to have had Hayne at the club since he was a teenager.
However, in the end the Eels don’t deserve to have Hayne. He’s the hero the club needs but doesn’t deserve.
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