Diary of Jarryd Hayne's week

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/sweetest-words-ive-ever-heard/story-e6frext9-1225782474524Sweetest words I've ever heard* By Jarry Hayne* From: The Sunday Telegraph* Sun Oct 04 00:01:00 EST 2009 Sun Oct 04 00:01:00 EST 2009"YOU'RE off ... you're off.'' My room-mate, Derrick Desira, broke the good news, screaming these words from the lounge room. What a way to start grand final week.SundayThank God the NRL brought my kneeing charge against Bryson Goodwin forward because I don't know if I could have handled waiting. My old man, Manoa Thompson, initially told me I would know my grand final fate earlier than normal.But because he always jokes around, I honestly didn't believe him. Then, in an instant, the 100 text messages started. We started high-fiving each other and I'm saying; "Ye-aah, I'm in the grand final.'' I sent a message to Keats (Matt Keating) straight away: "We're playing in the GF.'' I ended up going to Church on Sunday night to say a few thank-you prayers with Hindy, Todd Lowrie and Benny Smith. We all grabbed a feed at Milano's Restaurant at Baulkham Hills. I recommend their snapper, it goes very good. I ended up getting to bed about midnight.Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.MondayWith the weight off my mind, I got a good sleep and got to Parra Stadium about 10am for some physio before a whirlwind media day. Unbelievable. I watch a lot of European soccer on TV and it reminded me of that with all the cameras and attention on us. At about 5pm we trained in front of our loyal fans, our blue and gold army ... what a buzz. I'll never forget the support - and this was just a training session. I reckon I signed about 500 Parramatta jerseys. But I don't think it's sunk in yet that we're playing in the grand final even though every car that goes past seems to have something blue and gold on it. It's awesome. I haven't been that keen to go into town because I don't want to get mobbed. Seriously. I just want to try to be as relaxed as I can. If not, I'll get too excited and play the game there and then.TuesdayIt's our day off from club commitments so I meet with my "Connect'' group from church for some down time and general catch-up. It was an Islander theme, so we ended up having some Kava. I had a mate from Campbelltown over, so we headed to Claudio's Seafoods at Pyrmont to use my man of the match awards I had saved up this season. I was lucky enough to get five of them this year, worth $200 each from the 2GB boys. I must say that the guys at Claudio's looked after us big time.WednesdayAll right, it's hit me. It was after some training, which was just a light ballwork session, weights and some physio, that I got home and realised what was happening. I'm playing in a grand final! I was sitting at home and I thought, 'I've got to get out of here'. I was thinking about the game, about the boys, about my family ... I had to get out and clear my head. I ended up ringing one of my mates, not from footy, and going to his place. I reckon we played table tennis until about 11pm.ThursdayI love my sleep, so when the alarm went at 5am it was torture. We all had to meet at the leagues club to get the bus to the grand final breakfast. I'd prefer they do a lunch. But it was OK and I managed to get a photo with Danny Green, who has been a big supporter of the Eels, so that was cool. We left the city at about 9am and after some physio I went and had some lunch with my dad and Benny. Dad and I have tried to catch up every Thursday for the past few months. After such an early rise, I crashed for an hour in the afternoon before heading into town with some mates to have a look at the images of me on the Harbour Bridge. How awesome!FridayIt's 48 hours to go. The butterflies are building. I had an easy morning off then I grabbed some sushi with Benny for lunch before a training session that afternoon. The night was something special. Coach Daniel Anderson organised this earlier in the week, to have dinner with almost the entire 1986 Parramatta team. It was all very laid back with all the boys enjoying some unreal old stories. We got our jerseys, too ... I can't wait.SaturdayOur final run and we arrive to training with the news every Eels fans has been hoping for. Cayless will play. It's a huge lift to the boys and I know we'll be all doing our best to give him the grand final win he deserves.TodayBring it on!

"Well don't bring up sex next Randolph, God knows where that could take us, me being an old missionary.
Mind you I think we found our 9, not sure about the 6."

"Enjoyed reading that article. Thanks for sharing Bert.
Almost forgotten about the talent around Smithy in that 2005 side. Too much to expect from a rookie half to carry that side to a title. The expectations of him must've been unbelievable.
I hope…"

Replies

Kiwijian_01 October 4, 2009 at 9:02am

OMG...............are these actually Hayne's words, or hypothetically speaking paparazzi's words??
either way......Jarryd Hayne is No.1
Bosanac October 4, 2009 at 11:12am

lol.......table tennis
David October 4, 2009 at 11:22am

Table tennis will be good for him. Quick hands and good eyesight training.

This reply was deleted.

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