The loss of Hayne and the implications for Parramatta

If, like me, you've just read Jarryd Hayne's announcement that he's off to the National Football League, you're probably sick to the stomach. Parramatta's one shining light in the past four years, a once in a generation player and a future immortal has left the club he has been with all his life. His leaving has thrown up a number of conundrums for Parramatta's coaching and recruitment staff. Firstly, the team is now without a fullback. Having let Ken Sio go, Parramatta no longer have a fullback. With just over four months until the season starts, we will be hard pressed to find an NRL fullback. There is the option of playing Will Hopoate there, but he is still getting his body used to the grind of the NRL. No one player can do what Hayne does. He is the complete footballer and there is no one, absolutely no one, who can replace him. Secondly, there must be a blow to the confidence of the playing squad. Hayne was the difference in many games this season. His mere presence in the side lifted his teammates. The Eels will now enter 2015 without their captain and talismanic playmaker. For a lot of the youngsters who have grown up wishing to play alongside Hayne, it will have an effect on them. Thirdly, the club has more than a million dollars in its coffers and are in need of a marquee player. There are a couple of options. There's one of the Manly halves in Daly Cherry-Evans or Kieran Foran. There's the up an coming Ben Hunt in Brisbane or Adam Reynolds at Souths. There is also the availability of Kurtley Beale who seems to have been banished by the ARU. He played rugby league growing up and could be a serious option at fullback. The gut-wrenching issue here is that Hayne is irreplaceable. After all the work Brad Arthur has put into the side, he now has to strip back the processes he has put in place and start all over again. The Eels were building towards a Premiership force. The skeleton had been built around Hayne and he was showing his full value. It's a mystifying decision on behalf of whichever NFL franchise he lands at. Hayne is 26 years old and a freakish athlete, but he has never played a competitive game in his life. It's also mid-season. He comes to the sport very late and for him to transform himself into an NFL starter will take a lot of time. There is a possibility that Hayne may return next year given the NFL season concludes in February and he has a lifetime agreement with the Eels. That, however, is a long shot and probably wishful thinking. To Jarryd, I say farewell and good luck. Hopefully, this isn't goodbye. You've brought so much joy and excitement to the Blue and Gold Army since your debut as a teenager in 2006. We understand that you're only looking after yourself in such a competitive industry, but we hope, that you will one day return to deliver glory to Parramatta.

Why wasn't this a penatly against the Broncos last night?The new aerial contest rules state that to catch or bat the ball back, players must use two hands. Using one hand to slap the ball down is a penatly.In realtime it was a little difficult to…

Replies

Eeluminati October 15, 2014 at 10:46am

I cant even think about a replacement ATM, this hurts as much as Hindmarsh retiring
- BE STONE COLD > Eeluminati October 15, 2014 at 6:09pm
  
  Hurts more than Hindy retiring at least u had the season to prepare for it. And we got to "say goodbye" to him.
iamnot October 15, 2014 at 10:48am

We need to get Josh Hoffman, and fast. Get Corey Norman onto the recruitment front
Bert de Naturál✌️™ October 15, 2014 at 10:49am

He will be back at some stage and I'm tipping mid next year.

Not only is he a massive loss to the Eels but also the NRL. The very last thing they wanted was to lose the Daly M winner and such a marquee player after just losing SBW and Sam Burgess.

The NRL will pay him huge money to return to the sport.

Silver lining? He comes back mid 2015 on a contract the NRL are fully paying for that doesn't count towards our salary cap.
- Craig Marshall > Bert de Naturál✌️™ October 15, 2014 at 11:02am
  
  Bert my understanding is he will not be involved in this season over there and will then have a full offseason training with them so the earliest he would be back is 2016
Craig Marshall October 15, 2014 at 11:01am

Hunt has already resigned with Broncos until 2017

If Watmough comes there is no way DCE will sign with us
sturge October 15, 2014 at 11:07am

brett stewart and whatmough now would be good a package
sturge October 15, 2014 at 11:08am

barba
- sturge > sturge October 15, 2014 at 11:09am
  
  brett stewart
  - Johnny Suede > sturge October 15, 2014 at 11:22am
    
    Sandow to fullback and buy Thurston!!!!