Gold Coast star Jarryd Hayne has nominated former club Parramatta as one of the teams to beat at this weekend’s NRL Auckland Nines.
The Eels are the nines’ reigning grand final winners after defeating hometown favourites the Warriors but were stripped of the title as part of the punishment for salary cap cheating.
However, Hayne’s old club is expected to contend for the crown again with a strong squad that includes nines skipper Corey Norman, Bevan French, Josh Hoffman and Semi Radradra.
“I think there’s a lot of good rosters out there. Parra will be tough. The Sharks brought a good roster over,” Hayne said.
“It’s nine minutes. If you get the bounce of the ball, anything can happen.
“What I’ve been telling my guys, is to go out there, have fun, play for each other and when it starts to hurt, try to stay up because it’ll start to hurt early.”
Hayne was one of 16 nines captains to launch the event on Friday, alongside Norman, who is set to make his first appearance since his eight-game ban last year.
The Eels five-eighth was suspended by the NRL and fined $20,000 for a host of offences.
Hayne believes his ex-teammate is a natural leader.
“I think he’s come a long way since he left Brisbane,” he said.
“The way he played last year, he definitely lifted the team.
“Captaincy’s good for him. I think it really sharpens him up and he embraces the leadership role as well.”
Hayne is also stepping into the captaincy role for the Titans just six months after his return to the game.
He said veteran Ryan James would also play a leadership role in Auckland.
“I’m one of the oldest, one of the most experienced. I think we all really look to Ryan James as our leader, I know I do,” he said.
“He’s someone that’s been there for a while and that’s always good as a guy that’s been there for a while, been there since he was a rookie and something that I’ve really enjoyed.
“Really good squad, really young squad and something we’re learning as a group together.”
Stu
Guest
Funny - Hayne backing his old club. Already word from up north is his planting seeds to get back to Sydney in 2018.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I'd say that they'll be receiving limited minutes in the group stages but if they reach the finals they'll get a bit more game time. After all at the end of the day nines is nowhere near as hard as Pre season training or an actual NRL game. I think a player last year stated that a trial match was more demanding than the nines weekend. There will probably be a few injuries though (which are simply inevitable) which we will hear the media cry foul about for two weeks and in the weeks leading up to next years instalment. I'm pretty sure someone sited one of the manly players (jake T?) getting a concussion as a major thing. I mean concussions are bad but I'd hardly say one during the nines can derail a season.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Looking forward to seeing how Brisbane goes. Last year if I remember correctly we didn't take any actual halves and Thaiday and Blair were more or less our playmakers. Good to see us send over a strong side with some younger kids mixed in. Bit strange Bennett isn't going again though he does have a bit on his plate with England among other things. Plus I don't think the nines are really suited to his style anyway. I think the warriors problem is that they go too hard in the group stages so when teams get serious in the finals they're a little more worn than their opposition.
The eye
Guest
You kind of wonder how much game time/risk the coaches will give their marquees..particularly after what Sean Johnson said happened to him in last years finals..either of the JT's rip their hammies and Greenie will be lynched.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Bevan French, Norman and Radradra...that's the killer combo right there. Hoffman not so much....big defensive liability in the 13 man game and unless Brad Arthurs given him defensive pre-season drills he'll be a weak link. Its going to be between Eels, Cowboys and Broncos as they have the essentials for Nines...really good halves with long passes, speed machines and big sidestepping forwards with offloads in them. I think Cowboys actually should win it but its the Nines and the favourites have never won.