Jarryd Hayne admits he doesn’t believe he will be able to play for Parramatta in 2019 with fears the club can’t fit him in their NRL salary cap.
An understanding Jarryd Hayne says he’s resigned to the belief he probably won’t play for Parramatta in 2019 and will need to look elsewhere.
Parramatta’s NRL squad return to training on Thursday but at this stage Hayne won’t be there, with the two-time Dally M Medallist still without a contract for next season.
The Eels insisted on Sunday they still hoped to retain Hayne, but he believed it was unlikely they could fit him in under their salary cap.
“I’ve obviously waited a while to get something on paper but I think the long story short is Parra just can’t,” Hayne told AAP.
“They’ve already done their roster. It was done before I actually got there (from the Gold Coast at the start of 2018).
“You hear speculation that some of those players might be leaving and what not. I think that’s what they’re waiting for.
“But no one has left yet and pre-season starts in a couple of days so it’s not looking good.”
Hayne spent Sunday playing in a charity Twenty20 Battle of the Smashers to raise money for the Veterans Benevolent Fund, but he didn’t know what his professional sporting future held.
“I’m going to have to (look around) because I don’t have a job. In four days my contract is over,” he said.
“It’s a bit of a lottery (where I will be in 2019).
“I’m on the market looking for a job. I’ve got to pay the bills.
“It’s just one of them things. They thought someone might have left by now and no one has. It’s no hard feelings, I love all the boys at Parra. I understand where the club is coming from too.
“They want to keep me and have obviously been adamant about that but the reality is they can’t. There’s just no room. As sad as it is it’s just reality.
“I was lucky enough to get there last year and have a year there.”
Asked if he would consider testing himself in a different sport as he has previously with NFL and rugby sevens, Hayne said: “I think I’m open to anything so I’ll just have to wait and see.”
It’s understood the Eels are still attempting to manage their cap for next season, but chief executive Bernie Gurr insisted to AAP they hadn’t given up hope on Hayne running out in the blue and gold.
“We’re working on it. We’re hoping that we can get something done in the next couple of weeks,” Gurr said.
“We still want him here.”
After a slow start to the year, 30-year-old Hayne was one of the Eels’ best in the back half of 2018, busting 32 tackles and scoring six tries in the last six games of the season.
Morshead
Roar Rookie
Answer is perceived. The transfer 'value' system is a joke, and was made a joke when Hayne on $1M transferred to Eels from Titans on about half that value . Paul Kent (rightly) said at the time that how could his value have halved (he came off SOO representation too)? But the NRL signed off on it, so you'd have to assume that any player value is 'perceived' and not 'actual'. And please don't go down the line that he was actually only worth the $500,000. That wasn't the test, the test was the 'value' system and it failed. So... to your point... he could probably get signed for about $250,000 and NRL would accept it. Don't know whether he'd accept it but that drop in value is the precedent.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I'd have him in the Shark's backline.Hell we need more penetration in attack, and unpredictability.If this guy puts his mind to it, you get both luxuries.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
BA Sports, we will have to agree to disagree on this one, perhaps I, like many fans, am disappointed when I think about what could have been with Hayne in the NRL. For me, Hayne is the opposite to a one or two club player or even a journey man like Maloney who gives his all to THE GAME no matter where he is. These players make many sacrifices for their clubs and the NRL (both financially and personally) and have my respect as an NRL fan. Hayne should have a huge nest egg to retire at 30 on, unlike many NRL players. Good luck to him.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Ed, You called him self centered. Self Centered people don't do charity. Plenty of NRL players are required to do charity work as part of their club commitments. In this case, he was doing it off his own bat at a time when he has no club commitments. There is a difference. Challenging yourself, taking a chance to achieve a goal, be it financial or personal satisfaction doesn't make him self centered, we all do it. We all leave jobs for other opportunities. But if you think he should have played at one club and not tried to earn some money because you are still working for the same company you were with when you were 15 and have never looked for a promotion or other opportunity, then fine - but throw 99% of the entire population incluing NRL players in the same pot. It sounds like you are basically against him making as much money as he can. Well in 2 days time he will be 30 and unemployed - like many, many rugby league players - so why wouldn't he have spent the last few years trying to build a nest egg?
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Sorry but he has changed careers heaps, or did you forget! He played the NRL and S of O for NSW and played for Australia then played for Fiji in both league and rugby 7's, went off and played NFL then came back to the NRL only to dump a club to go play at another. So what if he does some charity work, I challenge to name one NRL player that doesn't do some charity work. His career path has been determined by him and his manager and I doubt if he ever considered what his NRL fans or fans of the NRL clubs he has played for thought. I have nothing against the guy and had hoped he could have regained his sensational form but looking back he has not been good for the 'NRL' and he could go off and play professional Conkers in England to challenge him self for all I care.
Over here
Roar Rookie
The Titans might be interested HAHAHAHAHAHA. Best of luck with your career HAHAHAHAHA
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Wow, what an ignorant comment. So to confirm this 'self centred' guy said he had no hard feelings toward anyone if things couldn't get done... while participating in a Charity, repeat, Charity event during a time that is essentially his holiday time... Yep, so self centred… He is a professional athlete, he hasn't even changed careers in that regard while people all over the world, every single hour of every single day change careers for more money and opportunity to challenge themselves... Boy are those people self centred….
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
If he went to Manly and played like he did for the Eels in the last 6 weeks or so he would be most welcome. His natural ability in a struggling team set him apart from all of his team mates.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Hayne is an example of the self centered guys that have been a blight on the NRL (following the example of SBW). Most NRL fans are sick of their managers drumming up the "NRL media" to boost their percentage of the cash at the expense of the genuine players and supporters of the NRL as they flip from code to code and competition to competition chasing the cash. Enjoy the cash boys as you certainly wont make it into the Hall of Fame.
Trebla
Guest
Could he follow the big money on offer overseas? French rugby? Japan? English league? I doubt he has the mental energy to get back to the top of his game. He could have been one of the greats, He looks like ending up a journeyman.
Phil
Roar Rookie
I don't care where he goes as long as it's not Saints. Manly would be a good fit for him, afterall they have said they need outside backs and Hayne would slot in nicely with Des and Co. Reading the above story gives me the impression Parra have offered a reduced contract and Jarryd diplomatically says they can't fit him in under the salary cap. After his time on the Gold Coast he looks like damaged goods.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Would anyone be able to pick him up on the cheap or will the salary cap auditors be valuing him based on previous years? Interesting test of perceived vs actual market value.