Jarryd Hayne could be 'best ever' league player, Andrew Johns says

By Barry TooheyAugust 30, 2009Jarryd Hayne can develop into the greatest player in rugby league history, and is "worth every cent" of his $1 million-a-season price tag, Andrew Johns says.“"He can pack stadiums on his own. Why wouldn't there be full houses when you get to watch a kid of his freakish skills play?"” – Andrew Johns The Team of the Century halfback is in raptures about Jarryd Hayne.The Parramatta ace was mesmerising again as the Eels dismantled finals hopefuls Penrith on Friday to continue their own charge towards the play-offs.Parramatta have won seven successive matches on the back of Hayne's brilliance, and they face a final-round showdown with ladder-leading St George Illawarra on Friday.Hayne's blazing form has become the talk of the league world.In two months, the Eels fullback has turned himself into the game's most influential player, leaving even Johns searching for superlatives."The way he's going, he's probably worth even more than a million a year," Johns said on Saturday."He can pack stadiums on his own. Why wouldn't there be full houses when you get to watch a kid of his freakish skills play?"He's the best in the game right now and if he keeps going the way he is, he could be our best ever. He's all everybody is taking about."Johns was in Townsville for the North Queensland Cowboys-Brisbane Broncos match on Friday night , but he rushed back to his hotel room to catch the second half of the Eels game on television."Some of the things he's doing on the footy field are mind blowing," Johns said."That inside ball he threw for Daniel Mortimer to score under the posts - only a handful of players in the world in either rugby code could have pulled that off."And then he rushes to the crowd and high-fives the fans. How good was that?"If that sort of thing doesn't bring people flooding to our games, nothing will. It was just sensational."Johns believes Hayne already is pushing the limits of greatness, and says he feels sorry for rival fullbacks such as Melbourne Storm custodian Billy Slater and Newcastle Knights No.1 Kurt Gidley."There is nothing wrong with the form of Billy or Kurt right now, but Jarryd is just unstoppable," Johns said."Billy was the best player in the world last year and he is probably playing at a similar level, but Jarryd is now in a world of his own."That's how good he's going."Johns believes Hayne's Rugby League World Cup experience with Fiji last year was the catalyst for his extraordinary season."I know during the Origin series, he was telling everyone that playing for Fiji was the greatest thing he had done," Johns said."That's how much it meant to him."I'm not sure how, but it's turned his footy career around and it's probably helped turn his life around as well."He's still only a kid but he has grown up a lot. He seems a lot more settled off the field."Given what's happened, I'm surprised just how level-headed he is. It's a credit to him and the people around him."I know he is close to his mum, and she has obviously been a big influence."$1 million a year for the 'chosen one' is loads. Hopefully the NRL can help us out keep Hayne because based on what I know, we don't have that kind of money without 7-8 3rd party sponsorship and deals to add to his contract. I'm hoping Hayne stays with us for less money and sees that we're heading towards a premiership, instead of shocking us fans.

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Replies

MaxZ/3iaGGiZ August 30, 2009 at 9:56am

Truely, he is The Chosen One!
blueNgold August 30, 2009 at 10:18am

$500k a season is all that will come from our salary cap, IMO its a bargain for Hayne and what he brings to a team, we must remember that he is only 21 surely the best is yet to come.

I think Hayne has reached a level of confidence where he will continue to deliver on his ability. Im not saying he can continue to have a blinder every week, but if he keeps up around this level of play for the next 10 years and can learn to dominate in Rep games, I have no doubt he would go down as close to the greatest player of all. It is a big ask however.
Blue & Gold Blood August 30, 2009 at 12:35pm

HE IS CAPABLE OF THAT. HE DOESNT LET IT GET TO HIS HEAD, WHICH IS CAN GET HIM THERE.
jamesy August 30, 2009 at 4:58pm

no player is worth a million dollars unless that player brings you a premiership every year they play.
Nidge August 31, 2009 at 12:12pm

That's a big wrap from a legend!!
shwgrl August 31, 2009 at 5:07pm

Leave him alone and just ley him play footy, maybe the reason he went off the rails to begin with was because of all the initial hype about how good he was.
Abbie Burgs August 31, 2009 at 5:27pm

of course he is !!!!
eels couldn't do it without him!!!!! :)
Make Parra Great Again September 1, 2009 at 9:20am

The article says he "could" be the greatest ever, not that he is now??? The ball is in his court, based on his next 5 games and then back it up for Australia at the end of the season, then on again next season...

This reply was deleted.

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