The Parramatta faithful are in distress, and the bookies aren’t doing them any favours.
As the Hayne Plane takes off for the USA, the Blue and Gold are in crisis. And if you look at the TAB’s odds for Parramatta’s 2015 season, you’d probably agree.
Jarryd Hayne’s departure has seen the Eels drift from a cosy $26 to a disastrous $51. Of course at the end of the day, the odds don’t mean much, but they do tell a tale of how shot the Eels are without their electric fullback.
As harsh as it may seem, Hayne single handedly carried the Eels through the season and NSW to a drought breaking victory. The Hayne-less Eels have been set at a $1.25 to miss the top eight for the sixth straight year.
The reigning Dally M Medallist, the Eels co-captain and true x-factor of their team has left a gigantic gap in the Parramatta Eels that has set the rumour mill alight. First off the bat is Josh Hoffman, one of Brisbane’s many fullbacks and has been searching for a year to get a gig somewhere wearing the no. 1.
Then, you’ve got Reece Robinson who signed with the Eels hours after Hayne’s departure. Finally, Brett Stewart. While Stewart has been linked to the Bulldogs and Canberra, Stewart’s connection with former Manly assistant Brad Arthur, old teammate Will Hopoate and the incoming Anthony Watmough – coupled with his recent request for release – has gotten the fan’s buzzing.
That’s not even mentioning the Israel Folau rumours.
It’s a terrible way for the Eels to start their preseason, with the faithful fans set go into panic stations for the next five months as they scour and scrutinise the NRL for a brand new superstar.
It will be five months of pure torture for a club starved of success in recent years. There are also whispers of Parramatta possibly collecting their third wooden spoon in four years.
A look at Hayne’s stats for 2014 tell the tale of the gaping wound left Parra’s roster by Hayne’s departure. With 20 tries in 21 games, 188 metres a game and over 20 linebreaks in total.
And that’s just Parramatta. The game is losing a State of Origin champion and a Dally M Medallist.
The Hayne Plane has flown the coup and left the Parramatta fans with jet burn. So how do Parramatta not only fill a gap, but prove themselves a genuine contender for the 2015 title?
Only time can tell if the Eels will fly without Hayne.
da plane
Guest
parra may go better than expected as no hayne means the others have to step up
fazed
Guest
Manly do have a couple of handy replacements especially in Hiku, & given that Brett Stewart is really at the end of his career he may not be missed all that much, considering that Stewart was also injured a fair bit over the past couple of years, they can survive without him. Also the aspect that if he wants out how much is his heart going to be in playing for the club. Problem is that when reading what Jarryd Hayne has said that he is giving the NFL 12 months to see if he can make it there, & if not he will return to the NRL, with Parramatta, that would likely play on Stewarts mind in signing with Parramatta, & I think that he would be looking for a 3 year contract at the minimum, something I am not sure that would be a good idea for Paramatta under the circumstances as I think 2 at the most would be all. In all of this, I am more sorry than ever to see Sio leaving the club, as it would allow Hoppoate to go to fullback & Sio in the centres, I also like the way that Morgan lifted this year, & he should retain one of those spots.
Johnk
Guest
I've been hearing a lot that B Stewart is going parra, I think he'll be a good fit but only for the short term.
Nambawan
Guest
Why on earth would Manly ever consider releasing Brett Stewart - who has two more years on contract and would simply result in severe damage to Manly whilst strengthening a rival club. I nwould be dumbfounded if it ever happened.
The eye
Guest
Has to be Brett Stewart in there with Choc..Dogs couldnt possibly have the money after B Moz and Raiders are plagued..
fazed
Guest
While Jarryd is hard to replace, in the end the remaining players now have the responsibility to step up to the plate rather than simply looking at the fact that when Jarryd returns then everything will be ok. Too often & with too many teams they have relied on a single player to keep them in touch with the top of the ladder clubs, many of the players in those teams have greater abilities than they really every show except in short spurts every now & then, they earn their money by default of the teams main player or players, now that Parramatta has lost their very best player, their are others there that can pick up the batten if they so desire to take the club onwards. It does not have to be doom & gloom, unless its seriously what they want.
Parrafan
Guest
I remember similar odds at the beginning of the 2014 season...