Parramatta superstar Jarryd Hayne believes the decision to rest him following his State of Origin exploits will prove a masterstroke by season’s end.
Hayne sat out the Eels’ heavy round 18 defeat to the Warriors in Auckland following Origin III in Brisbane but showed why he could drive the Eels to the finals in Saturday’s 24-18 win over Gold Coast.
The 26-year-old turned the match on its head in the 54th minute when he palmed away NSW teammate Greg Bird before sprinting 70m to level the scores at 12-all in a crucial match for both teams.
He backed up that effort seven minutes later when he charged onto a pass from Chris Sandow from just outside the 10m line to put the Eels ahead for the first time in the match.
While some eyebrows were raised by Eels’ decision to rest him earlier this month, the fullback believes it’ll bring out his best over the last rounds of the home and away campaign.
“We really had a plan for this, for my body to feel fresh coming into the back end of the year and having a week off after Origin is part of that process,” Hayne said.
“The way my body is and previously with injuries, we knew that it’d be the best for me and the team.”
Gold Coast co-captain Nate Myles was caught on a referee’s microphone labelling the superstar “arrogant” during the first half, but Hayne said his second-half exploits hadn’t come as a response to that jibe.
Instead he says he’s just keen to continue Parramatta’s climb from cellar-dwellers to finals contenders.
“I really feel that we’re still at the bottom of the mountain,” he said.
“There’s still a long way to go for us to climb and be a consistent team. That’s the end goal.”
The defeat is the Titans’ seventh at home in a row – an unwanted club record.
Coach John Cartwright said Hayne had been the difference in the game and refused to rule a line through his team’s sputtering campaign just yet.
“We’re competing reasonably well, obviously we’re going to have to turn things around as far as winning games and winning here at home,” Cartwright said.
“No-one’s given up. I can guarantee that.”
Andrew
Guest
The Gold Coast has had 3 teams - Seagulls, Chargers and the Titans ...One brother, who has being living here for 25 years, he follow the West Tigers. One cousin who lives here for 15 years, he follows the Knights (he's a Newcastle boy) And I follow the eels for 38 years.
PJB
Guest
And the talk is Cartwright us moving into a coaching directors role, with Neil Henry taking over. God help the Titans if this is the case. Personally I think they should wind the franchise up and relocate them to WA. The Gold Coast public do.bot care about the Titans and will continue not to care until Michael Searle is removed as a director.
djcooper
Roar Guru
John Cartright has to be the luckiest man associated with an NRL club. Mick potter has his team overachieving and looks like being shown the door and yet the titans have consistently underachieved and Cartright still holds his position.
BA Sports
Guest
I wish I could find the person on here who absolutely crushed me at the start of the season when I suggested the Eels were better than the Titans. The eels aren't great but the titans are just rubbish.
Andrew
Guest
2 hours ago, I listened to Nate Myles at MMM and Tallis is more F'n then me! I've had 2 brain injuries (One coma for 3 weeks and the other, 4 days) Myles is a scientist compared to Tallis. No joke - theroar readers.
E-Meter
Guest
The Titans had Hayne well covered in the first half. It took one missed tackle to get him going, as he stormed down field to score a superb solo try. From that point he was energised.
Andrew
Guest
Short answer is to play consistent footy similar to Slater which is is improving with every year. Great win by the eels away from home. Still in contention for a top 8 finish but out for and against is shocking so that can't be relied upon. No wooden spoon this year or in the foreseeable future the the mighty eels. Woop woop.
Andrew
Guest
The eye
Guest
Phenomenal..it's Jarramatta..what does he have to do to get the fullback gig for the Roos ?
Ben Smith
Guest
He is better than slater and GI .. best player ..
Andrew
Guest
"Gold Coast co-captain Nate Myles was caught on a referee’s microphone labelling the superstar “arrogant” during the first half, but Hayne said his second-half exploits hadn’t come as a response to that jibe". Gallen should've really laid out Nate Myles, but, Myles has a pea of a brain anyway. You have to mildly smart, Nate Myles isn't! haha