New Parramatta co-captain Jarryd Hayne trains in Guildford yesterday. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph
JARRYD Hayne and Reni Maitua will complete remarkable career transformations when they are named Parramatta co-captains this week.
Eels coach Ricky Stuart has carefully considered his options to replace retired skipper Nathan Hindmarsh since joining the club last September.
With no obvious successor, Stuart spent the entire off-season surveying the candidates and has ignored his natural preference for a stand-alone skipper.
The co-captaincy model will involve Hayne and Maitua, while inspirational prop Tim Mannah is also expected to play a role.
While the rejuvenated Maitua has fought back from a two-year drug ban to clinch the honour, Hayne's appointment will be the major talking point among the blue and gold army.
An undoubted match-winner, the 25-year-old is a singular character who has confessed his dislike of training numerous times in the past.
RENI MAITUA AND TIM MANNAH
Reni Maitua (L) was preferred as co-captain over Tim Mannah (R). Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph
But Stuart and Eels officials have enormous faith that the added responsibility will take Hayne's ownership of the team to another level.
They have also been in negotiations since early December to extend his contract for another four seasons - a deal that is expected to be finalised before the season kicks off.
Maitua, 30, had no captaincy aspirations when he made his NRL comeback less than two years ago. But his leadership and dealings with younger players have been impossible to ignore over the past two off-seasons.
The former Test lock was also a key figure in overhauling the team's attacking structure late last season, leading to a handful of wins that gave Parramatta a chance to avoid the wooden spoon.
Both players also boast the advantage of staying on the field for the full 80 minutes.
While he generally plays just over half a game, Mannah's passion during the past year's woes worked in his favour.
And the strength he displayed during the passing of his little brother, Jon, last month was also tremendous.
In the absence of Hayne and Maitua, he led the Eels against Wests Tigers last week and joined Stuart to explain the disappointing 41-4 defeat afterwards.
Stuart did not return calls last night, but the announcement will be made on Friday ahead of this weekend's final trial against Penrith.
The news comes as Parramatta CEO Ken Edwards begins a search for a new major sponsor after current backer Pirtek decided to cease support beyond this year.
Edwards has valued the package at $1.5 million a season, but Pirtek was only willing to re-commit for $3 million over the next three years.
The company's departure will relieve tension after Pirtek boss Glenn Duncan fell out with six of the seven directors following his snap decision to quit the board in late 2011.
"At the end of the day, $1.5 million a season wasn't viable for us. It was a 50 per cent increase," Pirtek said. "There are no hard feelings."
Edit SE22:
Tim Mannah has been named as Club Captain. His role will be as the media face of the team. He will deal with the captaincy interviews. I think this is a good move as it allows Hayne and Reni to concentrate on the team and removes an avenue for distractions.
Replies
somewhat happy with this, as stated in the article, there was no obvious replacements
MK should feel lucky to hold a 1st grade spot let alone worry about being captain.
I think they've got it right-but-why do we continue to leak information?? What's the point of making the announcement on Friday when everybody knows about this now?
The constant leaks to the media have to be a concern to Stuart. "Stuart did not return calls last night, but the announcement will be made on Friday ahead of this weekend's final trial against Penrith". It would appear that Stuart didn't provide the information and I would think he would be livid at the person/s that did-particularly if the rest of the team had not been formally told of this.
Will be interesting
Maitua to control the forwards in attack and particularly defence, plus give the refs grief ??
Hayne to control the backs and run the attack ??
Never have been a fan of co-captains but willing to sit back and see how this goes.
Hayne is going to have to tone down his aggressive attitude to the refs in order for this to work I think.
WHY ??
Thurston is allowed to say anything he likes to the refs - and Hayne is better than him.
Maybe if we let him rip we might start getting a few calls go our way.
No mention of Keating, thank god!
Hayne will respond and should become more assertive with direction of play and defence
He likes to be in charge while Reni will be the quiet achiever
As for Mannah his turn will come and he then will be ready for it
Positive steps to kick off the season with a win over the Warriors
Reni had this to say on facebook
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