SOMEWHERE between Darwin and Sydney, at more than 33,000 feet, it jumped out from an in-flight magazine.
The first vintage of Penfolds Grange, 1951, now has an auction price guide of $45,000 a bottle. It’s not until 1965 you have a sniff of getting one for hundreds instead of thousands.
Sitting on the same plane, maybe reading the same mag, was Jarryd Hayne.
He’d just scored two tries, for the third week in a row, to go top of the NRL try-scoring list and help his Parramatta Eels beat Canberra.
Parramatta Eels v Canberra Raiders: Match report
If some of Jarryd’s blood was binned in a Penfolds cellar, it would be his 2009 vintage fetching top dollar … or would it?
The question asked in commentary on Saturday, sort of, was; “Should investors rate his 2014 yield as a better buy.’’
The judges might sniff, swirl and sip cold hard statistics and the unquantifiable ‘x-factor’.
On the latter, Fox Sports Commentator Ben Ikin said; “I don’t think anyone in the league can just hit a button and turn in on like Jarryd can at the moment.’’
Now for the stats:
Games:
2009: 26
2014: 17
Tries:
2009: 14
2014: 17
Hayne has already scored more tries this year than in the 26 games he played in 2009. He notched his 100th NRL try against the Raiders on the weekend and fittingly it was the match winner.
Jarryd Hayne’s statistics.
Avg Runs
2009: 16.6
2014: 14.1
Avg Metres
2009: 175
2014: 175
He’s down on average runs so far this season but his average metres equal those earned in 2009, showcasing just how potent the fullback can be with ball in hand. And with four rounds of the regular season left to play there is a good chance he can churn out more average metres than in his breakout season.
Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne gets a flick pass away against the Knights.
Tackle Busts
2009: 178
2014: 109
Hayne is by far one of the most destructive ball-runners in the game. He was almost unstoppable in 2009 with an eye-popping 178 busts during play. But don’t be fooled by what looks like a significantly less number in 2014. On average, he made 6.8 busts per game in 2009 and is currently making 6.4 per game.
He’s even taken that destructiveness with him into Origin with the stats showing he’s the hardest player to tackle in Origin history. He has 109 tackle busts to his name from 18 Origin appearances.
Linebreaks
2009: 34
2014: 22
The fullback’s fancy footwork coupled with his explosiveness and speed has makes him one the hardest players for the opposition defence to contain and he currently leads the competition for the number of linebreaks. Hayne’s tricky footwork makes him one slippery Eel. Just ask the two Titans defenders he left red faced in round 20 when instead of tackling the fullback, they tackled each other.
Jarryd Hayne races away to score against the Sharks.
Try Assists
2009: 19
2014: 12
Hayne’s stats show he is an all-round attacking weapon. When he’s not bamboozling opponents with his silky footwork and ball playing skills he’s busy setting his teammates up to cross the line. He’s currently averaging more try assists than he did in 2009.
LB Assists
2009: 11
2014: 18
His ability to draw in players means he can create space and put teammates into holes. He’s only played 17 games this year and already he’s smashed his 2009 tally of 11 linebreaks assists.
Despite having played less games than in 2009, Hayne’s numbers show he is in the same form that won him a Dally M medal.
And who knows what he’ll give us for the rest of the season.
One certainty is you’ll want to be watching, maybe with a good red in hand.
Replies
If he's at he's best against the dogs we should win, but forwards to lay the platform for him. The halves need to kick good. And Hayne will do the rest.
Wow, and the season is not over yet.
He's better as I posted in a blog some months ago.
His maturity and leadership, PLUS his raw talent = far better player.
Origin this year is a fine example.