PARRAMATTA coach Stephen Kearney has broken his silence on the Jarryd Hayne debate - declaring the superstar's future next year will be at fullback, not five-eighth.
As the Eels prepare to tackle the Titans in tonight's wooden-spoon play-off, Kearney yesterday reflected on the highs and lows of a dramatic first year of NRL coaching.
And in a wide-ranging interview, Kearney all but conceded he had nothing to do with the club's disastrous recruitment this year but says now is not the time to play the blame game.
The Hayne debate
EVER since Ricky Stuart labelled Jarryd Hayne a better five-eighth than fullback, it has developed into one of the biggest debates in the game.Everyone has an opinion but Kearney's is the one that counts
.
Until now he has been reluctant to say publicly.
But with Ben Roberts and Chris Sandow arriving for next year, Kearney says Hayne will be moving back to No.1.
"We had to throw him into the five-eighth role because that was best for our footy club at that particular time," he said. "We have to take into account who we are acquiring next year and if you are talking about the future, well, we have to look at the personnel coming.
"I believe that will be the case next year and that is what I'm worried about. I'm not worried about in 24 months. He could be a six in a few years time - but next year he'll be our fullback."
Does the spoon fit
YOU'D have to be a tough judge to say Parramatta have been the worst team of 2011.
Sure, they sit stone motherless on the NRL ladder but for most of the season the Eels have tried their guts out only to fall short in a stack of luckless finishes.
But the fact is that if they lose tonight it will be the club's first wooden spoon since 1972. It doesn't sit well with the coach - but he says you can't question their commitment.
"The guys had plenty of opportunities to make an excuse for giving up for the last month," he said. "It has been really encouraging but we just haven't been quite good enough to get the results. As has been shown over the last three months, the difference between where we are
and where we need to get to is not a great deal but it is going to take some improvement from all of us over the summer."
Recruitment chaos
CHRIS Walker, Carl Webb, Paul Whatuira? What on earth were they thinking? Every Eels fan wants to know who is responsible for the disastrous recruitment of 2011.
Kearney yesterday was reluctant to play the blame game now.
"I sort of come late but again, I don't want to get into a situation (of saying) this is not my fault," he said.
"I'm not going to say yes or no because regardless of the situation I wasn't going to cry about who we had and who we didn't have.
"It doesn't change anything, all it does is push blame, which doesn't serve a purpose."
The Eels have added much-needed spark to the backs for 2012 with Sandow, Roberts and the Tonga brothers arriving.
But what about the pack - are there any plans to chase a big-name forward?
Kearney says no: "I don't think that is the worry for us. If you go through all the games I don't think we have taken a backward step against some of the more fancied forward packs in the competition."
The future
ONE of the most humble men in the game, Kearney laughs when you ask if 2011 has been a humbling experience.
From assistant coach at the Storm to fighting off for the wooden spoon.
Is it too broad a question to pinpoint the differences, you ask?
"You wouldn't have enough newspaper to write it up," he joked.
But he maintains the club will be better for the experience of this year.
And tonight, spoon or no spoon, Kearney says his only hope is that they give their best against the Titans.
Replies
I'm not surprised that he's said that-- he has to, whether it's in the plan or not.
Roberts is coming in expecting to be playing #6. If Kearney has other plans, he needs time to make the adjustments correctly. Kearney is exquisite at man-management and media-management.
Burt was our leading try scorer this year as well, for all those complaining that he isn't a good enough winger! Burt is a legend at the Eels, and I'm sick of hearing shit about him for no reason. If you have something something to say, say it in constructive manner.
I think Sandow & Roberts have ALOT of work to do to really excel with this team.
Burt might be in trouble now though... I imagine Sandow will take over the kicking and with the Tonga brothers and Loko coming along. Plus Jordan Atkins and i think we signed Tautai or whatever his name is. Then we've got Horo & Smith needing to fit back into the 2nd row. I wonder who'll get cut from the team?
CAN't WAIT TO SEE HAYNE RUN OF ROBERTS AND SANDOW :D
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