Eels Blogs

Anyone questioning Jarryd Hayne's indifferent early-season struggles - and sudden upturn of form - may finally have their answer.

Speaking to media on Tuesday, the Parramatta star revealed an upset stomach was at the centre of his lethargic start to the season, which has since been wiped out by a welcome return to form in recent weeks.

The 30-year-old, who moved back to the Eels in the pre-season following a turbulent 18 months with the Titans, also struggled with a hip flexor injury that scuppered his first few months back with the blue and gold.

However, a mystery stomach illness - which Hayne revealed required minor surgeries and total overhaul of his diet - was a key in his difficult return to his former club.

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"I went to see doctors, I had a couple of surgeries, we did a lot of tests, nearly every test you can do," Hayne said.

"We figured out certain foods I had to cut out of my diet, and take different supplements to get certain bacterias back in my stomach that had been wiped out.

"That was affecting me a lot, but we're on top of it now. It's going to be a long process, I think it takes three, four months just to continuously heal the stomach."

While remaining coy on the actual illness, the 209-gamer said waking with bloating and suffering with fatigue made a doctor's appointment a necessity.

"Just bloating, and not being able to digest my food... I just thought it was normal until I saw the doctor and got different tests," he said.

"Within a month, I lost two kilos, and everything has gone down... I feel good energy-wise.

"I love the game, but it's tough when you don't know whats going wrong with (your body) and you can't do things you normally can do.

"You start questioning what's going on and why my body isn't going the way I know it can.

"I'm on a probiotic now trying to reinvent my stomach, trying to get bacteria back in there that helps with immunity and digesting food."

However, with a dietary overhaul comes foodstuffs that have to cop the flick.

For Hayne, that included two of his favourite things - and to his detriment, his Eels teammates have caught on quickly.

"Eggs were the biggest thing (to cut out)... I used to have eight eggs every day," he said.

"I also had to cut back on coffee, which was tough... I haven't cut back as much I should have.

"The boys carry on now that I have to eat certain things."

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After spending the majority of his first year back with Parramatta in the centres, Hayne was shifted to the wing for last week's game against the high-flying Rabbitohs.

While the Eels are anchored to the bottom of the ladder, Hayne's return to form has been a key in the side's willingness to get in amongst the contest, with five of six result margins in Parramatta games since round 14 being decided by six points or less.

Regardless, Hayne admitted that, upon reviewing the loss to South Sydney - a clash the Eels led 20-6 before losing 26-20 - Parramatta just can't close out games.

"Winning is the funnest part, and we haven't been able to do that," he said.

"We were reviewing the (Souths) game today and realised how we let it slip and how we let them back in.