When it was announced last year that Jarryd Hayne was contemplating a return to the NRL from NFL and the San Francisco 49ers, so many people foolishly thought that this automatically meant the prodigal son would return to the Parramatta Eels.
What’s that old saying about assuming? It makes an ass out of you and me.
To be fair, the appeared to be in favour of Hayne returning ‘home’. For the Eels, it had been the year from hell featuring salary cap scandals, off-field misbehaviour and a season-ending injury to key signing Keiran Foran.
With Nathan Peats (and several other players) offloaded so Parra could continue to play for points in 2016, it really did look like there was room for Hayne, particularly when the salary cap position for the club was considered in 2017.
And then it was announced that Jarryd had signed with the Gold Coast Titans, becoming the most significant signing in the club’s short history.
After that announcement, people asked me how I felt and I responded that I was pleased. As an Eels fan, I did not want Jarryd back at Parramatta, and watching the NRL over the weekend further cemented that view.
Jarryd Hayne is undoubtedly one of the most talented players I have ever had the opportunity to watch. I have had the special privilege of watching him grow from an 18-year-old rookie into one of the greatest players our game has ever seen.
I always knew he was talented, but in 2009 – when the team won seven games in a row to go from second last to playing in the grand final against Melbourne – was when everyone else learnt it too. His mastery of the fullback position, his strength and speed gave him the ability to turn a game on its head in a moment and made him such a wonderful player to watch.
That season was the last time that Parramatta played finals football.
In the seasons to come, Jarryd was accused of drifting in and out of games and not ‘performing’ every week. What I saw during those years was a Parramatta team that shirked responsibility to Hayne, depending on hinm week-in and week-out to pull a rabbit out of a hat.
We were a team that depended on one individual and it made other players complacent and stunted their development.
If Hayne was not firing, neither were the Eels.
Jarryd left at the end of 2014 to pursue his NFL dream. Like most other fans, I wished him well and was grateful for the tremendous service he had given our club.
While some thought that Hayne was irreplaceable, it soon became clear that the team had moved on. This was underlined in season 2016, when, despite the walls closing in around them, the Eels showed a tenacity and resilience on the field that had been sorely lacking in recent seasons. No longer was complacency or shirking responsibility an option – every playetr had a responsibility to the other members of the team because without each other, that squad had very little.
Then on the weekend, the Eels stormed home to a 20-12 win over the Manly Sea Eagles. There is plenty of room for improvement, but what I saw was a far more balanced team and a group of men that work together to get the best outcome.
Corey Norman scored a try, set one up, kicked a 40-20 and controlled the team from beginning to end. Bevan French showed his usual speed from behind, Clint Gutherson had plenty of touches, Semi Radradra was ferocious in defence, and Suaia Matagi looked much better when he decided to use his feet instead of running directly towards Martin Taupau.
Parramatta no longer look to one person and that has made us a stronger team.
Now on to Jarryd himself. There have been a couple of things in recent weeks which have been less than impressive.
Sport is a business. I understand this. Many careers are cut short due to injury, so players must take every opportunity to earn as much as they can during their careers.
However, before a ball had even been kicked this year, Hayne expressed an interest to play rugby in France when his two-year contract with the Titans expires. In fact, a move could happen earlier, as Jarryd has an option in his favour for next season.
Jarryd should explore all his options before penning a new deal, but to see him already thinking about the next step was disappointing.
There are also rumours bubbling that Jarryd was fined by his Titans teammates because he did not meet team standards during the pre-season. While Jarryd denies this happened, he did tweet “loose lips sink ships” a couple of days ago. Read into that what you will.
The fact of the matter is, no one player is bigger than any club and the strength of an organisation is reflected in all its moving pieces.
During Saturday’s game between the Titans and Roosters, rugby league looked like the last thing on Hayne’s mind. As a fan, I’m not interested in that. My players have a responsibility to themselves and their fans to give their best every weekend.
It’s the same lack of interest and enthusiasm which I saw filtering through the Eels when Hayne was there, and it is something I never want to see again.
As for Jarryd, he remains one of the greatest players our game has ever seen and I have every confidence that he will return to that form during this year. I’m just glad that it’s not at the Parramatta Eels.
yung
Guest
well said, i find it offensive people put names like slater in with haynes when the reality is hayne is the greatest fullback the code has ever seen by a country mile. no other player, all so called immortals included, have done the things JH has on the footy field. he single handedly took down the 'greatest' origin team ever ffs. yet thurston is spoken about as a future immortal when he cant even tackle. when left by cronk in the '14 series was clueless. rugby league people are the worst judges of their own sport ive ever come across
yung
Guest
spot on. all of it
yung
Guest
perfect last sentence. amen for mine the greatest player of ALL TIME. daylight second
John
Guest
Disappointingly the mods took the hatchet out and gave this thread a crew cut!! Just when it was getting good ? Well Done ✅ to you TB ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
John
Guest
Did he get 2 Dally M's?
Big Daddy
Guest
SA Through to the keeper. You missed that one !!
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/titans/jarryd-hayne-was-axed-from-the-titans-leadership-group-following-arguments-with-teammates/news-story/4bf4636de6f00a1fd1a14bc89e2c26a0 It looks like it was old news Vincent - and he has since been restored to the group.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Because I like watching Nathan Ross? A point I have mentioned before? Oh my word, I am just a good boy!
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think the interesting part is whether they should considered role models. As highly paid famous people they clearly are celebrities. That's just the way of it.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Cheers renegade. Sorry to drag everyone down to this level. It's boring as hell. A week of this rubbish was enough though. But it's all through to the keeper from here.
Renegade
Roar Guru
TB, you're a much more respected roarer than these two flops..... anyone know where they came from - bringing down the quality of the roar.... how did the 20 odd rubbish posts from these two get through?
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
@Eelsalmighty And I have Hayne in my supercoach team. JH38 won me my first league title (in my debut year) when I captained him through the the SC finals in 2009 and he went on his golden run. Both Hayne and Slater are seriously undervalued in SC this year. Unfortunately there are too many questions over Slaters' problematic shoulder and though I wish him well o don't he has much time left in the game because of this. Hopefully the same doesn't apply to GI.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Newsflash he was never in the leadership group!
jeff dustby
Guest
can you pass me whatever you are engaging in?
jeff dustby
Guest
hook, you over estimate the importance of Australia and its marketing position. you also underestimate the seriousness of making an NFL team
jeff dustby
Guest
thank you Dean, i can assure it wasnt me
Bugs
Guest
Me and my flabby tummy are lazy. Hayne has proven himself to be an elite athlete. No chance that he can be successfully accused of simply being lazy. Any issues that Hayne has have a far more complex root that that...
BigJ
Roar Guru
stay tuned mate round two is coming.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Newsflash - Apparently Mr Hayne has been dropped from the leadership group (from Wenin on Supercoach Talk)
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
I know mate and I was applauding one of the exchanges between the two of you when I read it for the first time this morning. You are the Jedi Master of mind control and the "Barry Smack down" BigJ. You are also one of the few on here not afraid to speak your mind while so many sheep bleat the same tune eager to agree with each other and play follow the leader just like lemmings over a cliff! Loved your work on the "2017 ladder predictions (Part 1)" story. Can't wait for "Part 2!" ?