Well, that was unexpected. One of the game’s best, most watched, commercially-driven talents has up and left, following his heart after heightened Madden play-time.
Hayne could have been an immortal; he showed no signs of slowing down this year with a shared Dally M medal to now finish his NRL career.
It’s hard to see him chucking a Benji Marshall and ever coming back. Once (if) he gets a taste of American Football, returning to the NRL would be like skipping a Springsteen concert to catch a Fall Out Boy sideshow.
So which one of the many gaping holes that Jarryd will leave in the NRL shall I look at?
The Eels? No thanks, I’d be writing for days. The league itself? Scary to think with the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Burgess already skipping town only weeks ago – Channel Nine must be sweating on the fitness of Greg Inglis during the Four Nations tour.
The now ‘vacant’ spot in the Australian squad? Wait, no, scratch that. Didn’t even realise he was picked until today.
I’ll go for the less-stressful approach of looking at Hayne’s successor in next year’s Origin series.
With a quick glance, the options are a little unnerving.
Brett Stewart
Brett had a reasonably quiet year, his attitude seemed to fade once he was told his brother Glenn was to switch allegiances in 2015, so placing him as a first-choice fullback in place of Hayne would be a roll of the dice.
His 2014 statistics read as such: 10 tries, 22 try assists, 10 metres average kick returns, and 87 metres per game.
At 29 Laurie Daley will likely look for longevity in the number 1 role – my guess is Brett Stewart has played his last game in sky blue.
Josh Dugan
After a positional switch from fullback in an obvious attempt to snatch the vacant right centre position this year, it’ll be interesting to see whether or not he’ll look to revert back to his preferred position.
Looking at his 2014 stats won’t give much of an indication, as he played centre for half of the year and was injured for the first leg of the season, however he ended with 10 tries, 3 assists, 124 average run metres, 14 metres kick returns, and 4.9 tackle busts.
Dugan seems to be in with the selectors, grabbing the available spots when others are injured. Having been there before it’s likely he’ll get a shot should anything happen to…
Matt Moylan
The wonder kid from Penrith stole most of their headlines this year. With 9 tries, 17 try assists, 9 metere kick returns, and 13 line breaks, it’s the way in which he led the team with Jamie Soward deep into the finals and grew into a consistent performer that makes him the odds-on favourite.
Moylan may have given one of the wingers a run for their spot had Hayne been playing, and at 23 is the most likely candidate for the job.
Injury-prone but worth the gamble.
Outside possibilities
James Tedesco: Worth more than a thought, but the injuries are keeping him out of the game for way too long. Needs a solid season under his belt.
Michael Gordon: The best player at an awful club this year, however getting older and would be at long odds to even play in City versus Country again.
Reece Robinson: Shift to Parramatta could actually prove to be a good move for the underrated Canberra utility.
Kurt Gidley: I kid.
And, that’s it. Counting Justin Hodges, Queensland will field four better fullbacks in their team than any of these talented options, that is now an unfortunate reality if you are a Blues fan.
Obviously, there’s a long long way to go until Origin rolls around again, and like we always say, anything can happen. Players can lose or gain form, and there are always injuries and suspensions, but clearly there’s a tonne of ground to be made up between now and then.
If you don’t believe me, go ask a Queenslander how they feel on taking on one of the above mentioned players in favour of Jarryd Hayne.
After nine years, NSW finally had a(!) position in their spine which matched, or bettered, their opposites. My thoughts after this year’s series was that Hayne would be the main-stay the NSW fullback position until well into his 30s, taking over captaincy once Paul Gallen retired.
Now it’s back to square one.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
True.. but in the history of the game who has been. Maybe Smith, Lockyer, and Thurston...
maximillian
Guest
I agree. The big issue with NSW is the lack of creativity in the halves. This means they need another ball playing option at fullback to compensate for that. Stewart & Moylan are the best 2 options available in that respect. Dugan is a great ball runner & is a big man so he is good at kick returns & early hitups off the line, but his ball playing & distribution is decidedly average. That's why Hayne is almost irreplaceable at the back because he could do the big man role in carting the ball back but also had the play making skills & long kicking game to help out the halves.
Charles NSW
Guest
A different combination altogether.
Renegade
Guest
No way....weren't you trying to tell me back in May that Dugan will be the fullback this year. Give up mate, his got no hope.
The Barry
Roar Guru
What do you mean Luke Keary and Adam Reynolds or someone different again?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Plus Inglis, Hayne, B Stewart, Moylan, Morgan, Dugan, Milford, Hoffman, Tedesco, Gordon, Tomkins and Hiku off the top of my head.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Friend, DCE and Hunt/Milford aren't quite as intimidating as Smith, Cronk and Thurston.
Muzz
Guest
Charles - I don't think form will come into it. Hodko and J Reynolds will be auto picks for game 1 imo.
h3x
Guest
Oh yeh your right they played 08/11 grand finals at Brookvale, Same with 2012 SOO that was also played at Brookvale where he scored a double and a try in game 3 with NSW to lose by 1.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I really rate Moylan. He's a great athlete and a natural footballer but surely we need more than one good NRL season before we throw him into a key position. He's 24 I think so he's had plenty of seasons where he hasn't been good. Let's see if he can deliver again next year. I think he will but I'd be more comfortable seeing what happens. In the SCG game against Souths this year Brett Stewart made two of the greatest fullback tackles I've ever seen. Inglis and Sam Burgess made clean line breaks and Stewart took them both down with brilliant one-on-one tackles. That's on top of everything he offers in attack as a ball-runner, ball-player and kick chaser. I don't care how old he is - the others can have the jumper when they can do what he can do better than he can.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Terry Lamb.
Charles NSW
Guest
It really does come down to Daley's game plan! He has a lot of issues to contend with to get on top of these Queenslanders. The halves will be interesting to see if he goes with them again or does he go with the Souths pair of Luke Keary and Adam Reynolds or someone different again?
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Brett Stewart is only the best fullback available if they play at Brookvale mate.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
I said his discipline was a potential problem, I stand by that remark even though it turned out not to be -- the Bulldogs didn't manage to generate the kind of pressure situation that makes such things a factor.
The eye
Guest
Is this the same Alex who tried telling me George Burgess was a liability for Souths in the lead up to the GF ?
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Who have they got coming through? Morgan, Milford, and Mbye for starters, and a bunch of the young guys coming through in the solid NYC sides this year. Plus Friend and DCE are ready to take the reins from Smith and Cronk when the time comes.. I wouldn't be too worried about QLD in the future.
Muzz
Guest
Charles - I guess it will come down to Daley's game plan.If he chooses to go with a similar style of play as this years campaign he may opt for Dugan. Slurpy - RTS has huge boots to fill. Mini is a Roosters legend and respected by everyone involved in the game.In his limited time at fullback during 2013, RTS struggled with some of the basics - positional play and passing.During the early to mid parts of 2014, he and Mini would swap positions in offence only. RTS is an enormous talent, and fingers crossed, he thrives in his new challenge.
slurpy
Roar Rookie
RTS for one
Charles NSW
Guest
My thoughts as you had with Hayne and Stewart this year. It was lucky we got away with it. We need Stewart, as you said he can create something as a second 5/8 and we need one with the halves we may have again next year. It is a long time till the next one but we need to prepare. I hate it when people say put someone in for the long term. We need the best and with the exeprience. So many wrote off Anthony Minichiello saying for a long time he is too old. Yet how many played better than him this year at fullback?
Muzz
Guest
It's hard to know what we'll be facing next year.We won the series but got flogged (game 3) as soon as Cronk returned.I wanted Stewart as fullback last series with Hayne in the centres as i thought we' d need to find away of scoring more points.Stewart offers so much in attack, he's like a second 5/8th and imo has the quickest hands in the game along with perfect timing.He also has that freakish ability to change his line before catching the ball.No slouch in D either. Moylans a gun.I have said for sometime that he has the potential to be the next Locky.He's at that age where he's progressing quickly and coupled with the Panthers stable environment and a great coach with Gus overseeing things he will be even better come SOO 2015. Hard to choose between these 2 at this stage but one thing is for sure, we need to prepare like where facing the same QLD team and mindset that was present in game 3.