THE headlines surrounding Jarryd Hayne’s return to Parramatta may make Eels fans nervous but the former Titan unveiled a considerably leaner look on his first day of pre-season training on Wednesday.
As is the case in everything he does, there was an enormous media presence as Hayne stepped out with the Eels for their first training run of the new year and he cut an athletic figure as he was subjected to a mix of arduous fitness drills and exercises designed to test hand-eye coordination.
Twelve months ago Hayne was still modelling a physique that had added considerable bulk to cope with the demands of the NFL and despite the request of former Titans coach Neil Henry that he lose five kilograms he began the 2017 season weighing in at 102 kilograms.
His indifference to pre-season training not only cost him a place in the Titans’ leadership group but was the seed of the tension between he and Henry that ended in a toxic stand-off late in the season that ultimately cost Henry his job.
He looks to be well under that 102kg mark as he begins his second coming at Parramatta but there were certainly signs that he has considerable work to do in order to be at peak fitness for the Round 1 clash with arch rivals Penrith.
Trudging along with heavy legs alongside perennial pre-season struggler Nathan Davis, Hayne was at one point overtaken in one run by a young boy enjoying the highlight of his school holidays and looked largely disinterested as he sharpened his reflexes by throwing a tennis ball against a rebound net.
Hayne's 1st training session
Since completing his World Cup commitments with Fiji in late November Hayne has completed his controversial move from the Titans back to Parramatta, had two trips to the Middle East and become the subject of serious sexual assault allegations.
The training field will be something of a sanctuary for Hayne at present who is facing civil action in the United States following allegations of rape made by a person known only as ‘Miss V’ during Hayne’s time with the San Francisco 49ers in late 2015.
Hayne is expected to address the media at 2.45pm AEDT where those rape allegations will be the major talking point on what was supposed to be a day of celebration for Parramatta and their fans.
Replies
Confident he will get there but he still looks about 100 to 105 to me. Could be wrong though.
What these illustrious (sarcasm) reporters in the media have failed to mention is that Hayne was tried and tested and put through the ringer. In an article where BA is quoted, he states that where everyone was made to undergo certain drills and endurance exercises 3 times he was made to do them 4 times so taking that into account its pretty understandable he struggled. Still a long way to getting it right but I'm sure he'll come good. Time will tell. Love him or hate him, the reality is he is back in the blue and gold and as true eels fans all we can do is stay positive and hope for the best.
I ran into Hayne on NYE in Merrylands, and he is looking very fit, even outside of having run laps in training gear.
If his head is right, we will see a strong season from him.