Jarryd Hayne has brushed off speculation linking him to Sydney Roosters, saying Parramatta would be his preference if he ever pulls the plug on his NFL career dream.
Hayne has also tipped Parramatta, his former NRL team, to rise and enjoy a big 2016 season – top four if their big signings stay clear of injuries.
Hayne isn’t guaranteed a spot on the San Francisco 49ers active roster for the next NFL season, however the franchise does hold his rights and can offer him a new contract when he begins pre-season training in April.
The Roosters have been heavily linked to Hayne since he returned to Australia in his off-season, while Parramatta have looked to move on from their Hayne era, signing veteran No.1 Michael Gordon and pencilling in Auckland Nines star Bevan French as their long-term fullback.
But Hayne left no doubts as to where his hypothetical return would occur.
“Like I always said, if I ever came back I’d go to Parra if they wanted me,” Hayne told Triple M’s The Grill Team on Monday.
“That was always something I said from the start. It’s funny when you see media outlets say I’m doing this and I’m doing that.
“It’s even funnier when you see Parra fans go online and have a go at me. If you believe that you’re a clown.”
Hayne spent the weekend watching his native Fiji at the rugby union Sevens tournament in Sydney but after hearing Parramatta had won the NRL Auckland Nines in New Zealand, he was buoyant about their season prospects.
The Eels haven’t been in the finals since Hayne inspired their fairytale 2009 run to the grand final.
“If Parra can keep their star players healthy, they’ll be in the top four,” he said.
“The biggest thing is keeping healthy – Beau Scott, [Anthony] Watmough, Kieran Foran. If those blokes can play over 80 per cent of games, I think they’ll do well.”
Russ
Guest
Dearest Yoda, apparently I'm not allowed to reply to you directly so I put on my tab. What i call funny onion is nothing to do with you. You have said this sort of thing before about being jealous and I answered it. If you have trouble remembering things I can't help you. Just to stay oe theme the Hayne story is a boring one that some people won't let have the death it so richly deserves on an RL forum. Some claiming vicarious Kudos from his efforts a bit like those who say when we went to the moon.
Yoda
Guest
No comment was made about any sport,then why did you refer to union as kick and clap and then in your last post yawn.Deep down are you envious of union,I know you will never admit it but I think you are,maybe we should meet up and discuss the merits of both sports Ruskin,where was that place in France,you could bring Eric along too,VIVA LA FRANCE!!! INFATUATION:Admiration,unreasoning desire,intense feeling,smitten,lasting feeling,strong attraction.
Roostermark
Guest
Good luck to the guy and I hope he does well, as a Rooster supporter I don't want him at my club as we have plenty of young talent coming through and don't need to waste so much cap space on one player. If the club wanted to spend the dollars they would have kept Sheck all this Hayne business could be like all players that get linked to the Roosters and many do, just to boost their asking price.
Andrew
Guest
Personally, I wish the best for Hayne in the NFL, though the eels have Gordon this year and French with the coming years. Bevan has to bulk up a little with the Parramatta eels staff. Then 2016-17 he will be a force to reckon with.
steve b
Roar Guru
All the speculation about Haynes future the guy will do whats right for him whether he can go back to Parra depends on so many variables and good luck to him wherever he ends up i hope its back with the blue and gold but if its not so be that.
Russ
Guest
You're learning yodes and you bought a dictionary! Who said Old dogs can't learn? However, you are yet again pretending something has been written when it hasn't. My comments sarcastic and otherwise were not and never will be intended for any sport when responding to your posts. The fact that you used the Hayne comment I made about how uninteresting I felt the story was as somehow a comment on another sport. No comment was made about any sport but your continual attempts to denegrate a sportsman because he chose to leave ru are truly global and just as equally nasty and intentional. Not trying the bullying card today? I suppose it was getting a bit tired and over used. The remarks I made were all repeat all , as you seem to find things hard to follow, intended for you! And the Hayne story is still about as boring as the Pearce story and neither of them have anything to do with yawn, so why are you commenting on them at all?
Yoda
Guest
Not once in the article is Union mentioned Russki,so why you can't comment just on the article without sarcastic comments about another sport is beyond me. Cheap shot:Covert,unsportsmanlike remark,unfair,verbal attack,knock,denigrate,belittle.
Russ
Guest
Wishing him well goes without saying yodes but the point I was making was how tedious it is as a story but using it to plug your usual get Burgess motif is depressingly routine, mundane and spiteful! So, yet again, there's nothing happening in kick and clap land to retain your interest then? Sniping: to act from a hidden position, to irritate, to annoy from a disguised look out!
Yoda
Guest
At least he's trying to have a real go at a different sport,credit to him,unlike scam burgess!
The Verdict
Guest
If the Roosters are willing to suffer by leaving cap space open for Hayne's return, then they deserve him. Parra on the other hand are blowing all their coin, so will have nothing left for Hayne, which gives him a reason to sign with Nick Politis.
Rodney Olsen
Guest
As a lifelong parramatta fan, it's a shame he left, but good luck to the guy, I don't think we'll see him playing rugby league again sadly. What a waste of talent imo.
MAX
Guest
Jarryd Hayne makes some revealing comments on heavy hits in the NFL. (news.com.au) "your brain is still hitting your skull", "Rattled", "struggled to sleep" Worth a read. Maybe he is self doubting about his NFL career.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Well this is a turn up for the books! I thought a Daily Tele reporter spoke to someone who saw Hayne having coffee in an Eastern Suburbs café, which meant his signing with the Roosters was imminent? Strange.
jamesb
Guest
Hayne didn't care about Parramatta when he left. If I was Parramatta, I wouldn't be standing by the phone waiting for his call. Parramatta needs to move on from Hayne.
Russ
Guest
I'd like to say there were things I cared less about but even kick and clap seems more interesting than speculation about Hayne!
Big J
Guest
Barry, Based on what ????
Big J
Guest
Now that the eels have finally won something everybody thinks that Hayne is coming back to the game. The eels have a long way to go if they think that this is some sort of revival of the club. Let's face facts parra won the nines because they got lucky enough not to get any injuries and not to many of the other clubs play at full strength, so no real comp there. Plus if Hayne does come back parra can't afford him so, he will have to go to somewhere else, just for fun I'll tip the Sharks of the Dragons cause that where everyone else ends up.
Roostermark
Guest
Pot calling the kettle black there whole 3 tiers last year and the Whatmopugh saga. TPA's are where it's at and if Parra can't get good ones stop whining about the clubs that can.
Roostermark
Guest
If it was for this year fine but with the young guns that will be pushing for selection for 2017 as in Manu, Mitchell and Charlie Taylor for example they as in the Roosters won't need him.
East Bound & Down
Guest
Oh well the rooster hating rumour mongers will have to put their collective empty heads together and construct a new unfounded rumour.