Mannah leaves door open for Hayne Reunion

Parramatta captain Tim Mannah expects the Eels to leave the door open for prodigal son Jarryd Hayne to return home, but admits the club already has a new favourite son.Off-contract at Gold Coast at the end of the year, Hayne reportedly has until the end of next month to take up a contract option in his favour to remain at the club next season.However the former NFL convert has already expressed a desire to examine the sporting market, which could possibly include what would be a fairytale return to the blue and gold.Asked if the ship had sailed on a Hayne reunion, Mannah told AAP: "No, the plane hasn't flown. But I feel like we've got a very capable fullback in Bevan French."But at the same time, you'd always want Jarryd in your team somewhere. How that looks, I don't know. But he's definitely someone you never say no to having in your team."Hayne revealed close friend Mannah was a point of contact during discussions last year on his NRL return, before finally deciding on joining the NRL's youngest franchise.But Mannah said he wanted to avoid the possibility of being a middle man a second time."We know contracts are more about business than anything else. We can't tell him what the club would offer, if they would offer anything," he said."At the end of the day, we're just going to leave it up to him and his manager."Eels chief executive Bernie Gurr said the club was likely to be a major player in the free-agent market after officially passing their salary-cap audits for 2016, and were under the cap this year.But he declined to comment on any potential chase of their former superstar."We have no comment on Jarryd, just hopefully that he gets healthy and can play again. It's a tough game, we don't like to see anyone injured, so we hope he comes back," Gurr said."He's been a terrific contributor to Parramatta in the past, but we hope he gets back on field."Hayne will miss what would've been his first clash with his old teammates on Saturday after picking up an ankle injury in the Titans' loss last week to Newcastle.Mannah said he sympathised for his former teammate, who had come under fire in the lead-up to the match for his work ethic at training during the pre-season."I've seen this happen before where people aren't happy with the way he trains but, as soon as he starts winning you games and fulfilling on the field, they quickly forget that," he said."I can understand what they're saying about his training. But once he starts to get on the field and doing his thing, it won't be long before they quickly forget what the off-season was like."

Replies

Thooper Dooper Maltese Sparrow March 16, 2017 at 11:29pm

Hayne is a lazy arse. Talented yes, but lazy arse.
Ron March 16, 2017 at 11:34pm

Mannah can go to the Titans and reunite.
Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown March 16, 2017 at 11:38pm

Fair enough, hes saying if he wants to come back it wont be at fullback or on his terms.

As Timmy said we already have a 'new favourite son'.

I love the middle man reference lol

Fark timmy is a massive dribbler god bless him, love the bloke
Alan Hunt March 16, 2017 at 11:50pm

If Mannah want's a reunion with Hayne he can do it in the dunny's at the local park.

Hayne is not welcome back here ever again.
- wazzamatta > Alan Hunt March 17, 2017 at 12:47am
  
  Fair point. Don't know about dunnies
- Zip zip > Alan Hunt March 17, 2017 at 6:40am
  
  Somehow I don't think any club will be paying $1.2m a year on Hayne to play centre.
Chocolate Frog ♥ Ms Peppers Mint March 17, 2017 at 1:59am

Can see Jarryd working off the edges as a 3 or 4, interchanging here and there with Guth @ 6 who also works well off the edges. If Hayne did come back we would have a 2018 backline as good as our 81-86 mob, particularly if Semi was retained after being found not guilty.

1. Bevan --------------- Taylor

2. Semi ----------------- Grothe

3. Jennings ------------ Ella

4. Hayne ---------------- Cronin

5. Hoffman ------------- Hunt

6. Guth ------------------ Kenny

7. Norman -------------- Sterling
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER March 17, 2017 at 5:14am

Im with you Alam dont wont him dont need him

ILL BE BACK
Poupou Escobar March 17, 2017 at 5:24am

That's basically what he said, except he didn't come across as an inflammatory dickhead like you wanted. "At the end of the day, we're just going to leave it up to him and his manager" is a diplomatic way of saying he doesn't think the club is interested in having Hayne back. But don't expect our players, especially the club captain, to come out and put shit on other players, especially their mates.
The Offside Eel March 17, 2017 at 6:46am

Dont need him dont want him why do the media keep thinking we do? I'm Sure That Most fans have moved on from Hayne