Jarryd Hayne may have left the rugby league world as one of the best players in the world, but he isn’t the player the Eels need in their quest to win their first premiership in over 30 years.
After such a promising year, the Eels 2016 campaign has progressively gone from bad to worse. From their salary cap scandal, releasing gun players Nathan Peats and Junior Paulo to the recent Semi Radradra scandal, it’s fair to say it’s probably the worst year in their 70-season history.
In light of such a dire situation the club find themselves in, there have been plenty of reports of the Eels trying to re-sign Jarryd Hayne, especially considering reports today the troubled Kieran Foran could be leaving the club. While there is merit in this idea, personally I think it would be another step backwards that the club does not need.
Although they have only had a handful of games together, halves Kieran Foran and Corey Norman clearly combined well, and their styles of play compliment each other well. Foran brought the steadiness every team so desperately needs, while Norman adds the flash and flair so many teams desire. Breaking this partnership would mean starting from square one, and we already know Hayne was a failed experiment in the halves.
And if Foran does leave, a player similar to him, not Hayne, would be of greater benefit to Parramatta.
Let’s not forget that Hayne is also turning 29 next year. At the same age, we’ve already seen a slight decline in the performances of Greg Inglis, a superstar of similar ability. Again, the rugby league world Hayne left in 2014 has changed quite a bit since that time, and adjusting back to the game after two years absence is sure to take time. We may not even see him back to his best considering his age and time taken from the game.
And of course, my final and probably most important point, Hayne’s salary. With all these previous factors laid out, would Hayne really be worth the estimated $1,000,000 that he is rumoured to be offered in 2017 and beyond?
In a competition where a salary cap exists (for good reason), clubs need to balance their squads and look to the future especially for the best possible results. I’m going to make a bold prediction and say that if the Eels sign Hayne, they won’t win the comp with him so long as it prevents them from making other signings they need to make, such as re-signing Norman and finding another explosive front rower and dynamic hooker.
As good a player as Hayne has shown he can be, I struggle to see him coming back to the NRL and making an immediate and long-term impact. If the Eels really want to fulfil their potential and break a 30-year long drought, they need to make smart signings and not put all their eggs into one basket with Hayne.
Do you think the Eels should sign Hayne? Is he worth $1 million dollars? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
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