Is Jarryd Hayne now the best player in the world? Is that what the past week’s performances – by NSW with him and by Parramatta without him – tell us?
Hayne first created the potential for best-in-the-world status in 2009 with that incredible second half of the season that ended with the Eels losing the grand final to Melbourne, a team with two regular contenders for best-in-the-world status in Billy Slater and Cameron Smith.
He wasn’t able to continue at that amazing level – no-one ever is, it was that freaky – and while he remained a great player he wasn’t considered to be in that elite class that included Slater, Smith, Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston.
But he must at least be part of the discussion now.
Would the Blues have won Origin I without Hayne? I believe not. His influence on the outcome of the match – even with so many other great players on the field, for both sides – was that big.
The try he scored provided the greatest evidence of that. No other player would have scored it. They would have been stopped short of the line.
It was yet another example of Hayne’s amazing strength that, despite hitting the ground, he was still able to fight his way through the defence and get over the line.
We’ve seen him use that same strength to repeatedly save what look like certain tries in the NRL when he tackles the ball-carrier around the middle and somehow gets him on his back despite momentum being so far against him he doesn’t look to have a remote chance.
For those who appreciate statistics, apart from scoring that try, Hayne ran for 173 metres in Origin I and had 10 tackle breaks, two offloads, two line-breaks and one line-break assist.
It must be noted that Slater at fullback for Queensland had a terrific game as well, which just goes to show that the argument over who is the best player in the world is ongoing.
Slater, Smith, Inglis, Thurston and Hayne regularly deliver superb performances.
And that’s the point with Hayne. For a while, in recent years, he tended to drift in and out of games and not have the constant influence those other players have from their similarly key positions.
But Hayne has now mastered the art of playing fullback and is producing constantly high-quality performances himself.
Hayne, as a fullback, mixes the traditional with his own ability to get heavily involved in the play, whether it be from out of the back or rushing up to join the front line in attack.
Parramatta were pretty much useless without him when they lost 38-12 to Penrith on Friday night.
I know it’s unrealistic to say the absence of one player was responsible for a 26-point difference between two teams, but Hayne’s absence was certainly the start of where that game was won and lost.
He controls the tempo for Parramatta and has developed a great understanding with their rejuvenated halfback, Chris Sandow.
Sometimes, when there are so many great players to be considered and there is so little between them, the question of which is the best in the world becomes almost a weekly argument.
Slater, Inglis, Thurston and Smith have been the main contenders for a while now and it has chopped and changed between them.
But surely Hayne has entered the equation.
I don’t know if he’ll be rated the best player in the world a month from now, or late in the season, but, as far as I’m concerned, for the week just gone – and coming off the fantastic base he has created in the NRL this season – he is number one right now.
ChubbzyK96
Guest
The best comment!
ChubbzyK96
Guest
Commentator for Sharks vs Parra game on 02/08/2014 just made the most accurate description of Jarryd Hayne I have ever heard. 'Jarryd is the man who jumps into a phone box and comes out with a cape on.' Last weeks game vs the Titans Hayne bobbed up a few times with moments of mesmerizing brilliance to win the game. He is often the difference for the Eels and the Blues and chips in with good play but he is RARELY ever a full time brilliant player.....He just goes missing waaaaay too often.
Spoungeworthy
Guest
I swear this article gets trotted out once every two years, usually around SOO time, then it gets hidden as soon as Parra drop out of the semi final race (usually between rounds 3 and 12).
Rusty
Guest
Davo, just shut up. you're embarrassing yourself.
Millsharding
Guest
Hayne is the most natural player I've seen !!! Johns is the still number 1 in my book but I reckon jarryd has more of a natural gift for rugby league then johns did.. If hayne completely masters the game as he gets older like johns did he will finish with possibly 4 daily m's and the best ever in my humble opinion.
yung
Guest
he deserves to be but wont happen due to queensland and inner sydney politics
Meesta Cool
Guest
He certainly thinks he is. to be the best, you have to be consistent and not injury prone. - he is definitely a good player, BUT, I think that title is a long way off target!.
Santos
Guest
Andrew Johns, Game 2 of the 2005 State of Origin - one of the most influential performances you will ever see.
Jon
Guest
He'll be an Imortal.
KB
Guest
SBW... then daylight
KB
Guest
You should do your homework son...
Jackson Henry
Guest
Interesting about Thurston - are you able to elaborate? I'm not sure if I agree or disagree....long story short, I think Thurston gets the wraps he does because he is a certain type of player: instinctive, reactive and invididually brilliant. However I also think a lot of success comes from playing along side a certain other type of player: composed, good leader, can deliver in high pressure situations. It frees him up to just play his own game - which is why 1) much of his accolades have come from teams featuring guys like Lockyer, Smith and Cronk and 2) the Cowboys are the NRL's perennial underachievers, despite having one of the best rosters in the comp. So yeah, Thurston one of the best individually, but the unfortunate reality is that he's the central playmaker at one of the most consistently underperforming teams - and I think this is because leading teams is not one of Thurston's strengths. I don't wan't to knock the bloke too much, as some of the things he does are truly remarkable, but at the same time I think a lot of the above gets glossed over because there are no Johnss, Lockyers, Fittlers, Langers and Daleys anymore - and RL needs heroes to market itself.
JayBob
Guest
No he's not the best, Guerra is! Didn't you see how good he played for 5 minutes? I know it's not consistent because he only done it for 5 minutes but it was the best 5 minutes I've ever seen! Your opinion is obviously not based on consistency because otherwise you would have Thurston, Smith, Slater and many more in front of Hayne. So my choice is Guerra based on that unbelievable 5 minute period. *Removes tongue from cheeck*
Knight Vision
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-- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Knight Vision
Guest
If hayne played his career along side good players as Smith , Slater , Inglis ( please do not put Thurston in this conversation ) then he would be well on his way to being spoken of as a future immortal . In the case of Thurston in the land of the blind the one eyed man is king. In an era void of talented halves he's been a standout . Good player ? You bet . Future immortal ? You must be kidding. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
jamesb
Guest
C'mon guys, John Morris from Cronulla is the best player on the planet.
yung
Guest
Yes he is, not even arguable. He didnt even need the first SOO game either. Noone and i mean noone has solely had such an impact on a team as Hayne has for years now. People that mention his so called 'laziness' or 'in and out of form' are talking pure jibber. Week in week out Hayne has had to carry his club team for years and yet his stats still match and exceed Slater, the 'so called' best. Slater doesnt hold a patch to Hayne regards being able to carry a team on his solitary shoulders, ineed he's never had to but he simply doesnt have the all round game to do so if he was put in the position. Either do any of the storm three... witness Cam Smith just last weekend in Melbournes 22-0 loss, without Cronk and Slater, he has nothing to lift a team on his own! Well, Hayne has had to do exactly this most his career! Dont get me wrong the likes of Cronk, Smith, Inglis, Thurston and Slater are champions. Hayne however is the only player in the world of Immortal class. He still needs a couple great seasons of club footy to get there and the likelihood of it ever happening due to politics is low but fact is Haynes the most complete player the game has ever seen. A Johns is the only one who could mount an argument against that.
turbodewd
Guest
+1
Wedge
Guest
Best player on the planet? What could he just not be bothered dragging parra off the bottom of the ladder the two previous years? Or the 8 series losses in a row to Qld, he couldn't be stuffed? But decided this was the year to single handedly revive parra? He's lazy, he's a freak when everything is running hot, but when it gets really gritty, he hasn't been there. Let's face it, if Cronk stayed out there, NSW wouldn't have turned that game around. And Hayne wouldn't be hyped up like this, Joey is a blues legend through and through and come origin time he spruiks their most important player as the best ever? You guys not reading it? NSW media saying the best player in the country is the NSW X-factor. Game under the pump when everything is falling apart? Wouldn't rely on him, Morris was far more of an impact during the restless onslaught.
Joel
Guest
If Hayne played for Melbourne, Cronk, Smith, Slater, Chambers would be playing for Brisbane Titans haha Rob G, who ya gonna fool this time ...