- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Blues coach Laurie Daley has to come up with the formula to attempt to dethrone the Maroons this year. One big decision he will need to make is where to play Jarryd Hayne.
Is he best suited to the team at fullback, centre, wing or five-eighth?
In last year’s World Cup, Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens used Hayne at centre inside Brett Morris. The move was a huge success and he was unlucky not to be named man of the match in the final.
He will be selected again at centre to take on New Zealand in this year’s Anzac Test. Hayne might have excelled at centre in the World Cup, but playing centre against sides like USA and Fiji is a much different prospect to facing the Queensland side.
The five-eighth position will be the one which causes most headaches for Daley. The Blues have a lack of goal kickers available to them which helps James Maloney’s case for selection. Hayne has a wonderful passing and running game, but it’s best suited to fullback.
Hayne has played the majority of his Blues’ career on the wing, once picking up New South Wales Player of the Series from the flank. Hayne is at his best with the ball in his hands. On the wing you just don’t get the same opportunities as you do at club level.
Fullback is one position NSW has a lot of depth in and where Hayne plays at club level for the Eels.
On Monday, I was at the Eels versus Tigers game at ANZ Stadium. Sitting in the North-Eastern corner of the stadium, I watched Hayne right in front of me cross the line twice for two tries in the first half.
He had such a huge presence on the right side when the defensive line was moving and was able to use his strength to get between defenders and power to the line.
Josh Dugan has impressed when selected for New South Wales, but there is an argument from some saying he brings a poor culture to the team. Jarryd Hayne is New South Wales’ best fullback, but Josh Dugan also provides an x-factor as well.
They can’t both be selected at fullback.
Is New South Wales better off having Dugan at fullback and Hayne out wide, or Hayne at fullback and no Dugan at all?
Should Daley move Hayne to the edge to accommodate having Dugan in the team as well?
Hayne was fullback for Game 1 last year, scoring a try and helping New South Wales take a series lead. That’s his best position. He’s the Blues’ best fullback.
Laurie Daley, leave him there.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.