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PARRAMATTA coach Stephen Kearney isn't sure whether Jarryd Hayne's long-term future lies at five-eighth, but he believes it is the position the Eels superstar is best suited to for the club at the moment.
Kearney last night named Hayne to wear the No.6 jersey for the first time this season against Canterbury on Friday night, although he has played five-eighth in the last two games. The switch was initially made after halfback Jeff Robson withdrew from the round-18 match against Wests Tigers, and Hayne volunteered to move from fullback to five-eighth so Casey McGuire could feed the scrums.
Robson has recovered from his hamstring injury and is available to play against the Bulldogs, but Kearney has opted to stick with Hayne at five-eighth and Luke Burt at fullback. ''I think it is a position where he has been able to benefit the team but whether it is a long-term move or a short-term move I couldn't tell you at this stage,'' Kearney said.
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''At the moment it is what best suits this group of players but we don't know how long it will be that way. It is a week-by-week thing.''
With South Sydney halfback Chris Sandow and Bulldogs five-eighth Ben Roberts joining the Eels next season, Daniel Mortimer faces a tough road back from the NSW Cup where he has been playing with Wentworthville.
However, Kearney backed the 21-year-old playmaker to rise to the challenge. ''He has got a contract with us for another year that we intend to honour,'' Kearney said. ''I just feel that the way the players in those roles have gone in the past eight or so weeks has been OK so I haven't wanted to make changes.
''But 'Morts' played well for Wentworthville last week so if he continues to do that I am sure he will eventually get another chance.''
NSW coach Ricky Stuart declared five-eighth was Hayne's best position as an explanation for choosing Josh Dugan ahead of him in the Blues No.1 jersey for Origin I, but Eels utility Reni Maitua said Hayne was also one of the game's top fullbacks.
''I don't know if it's his future position. He's a brilliant fullback as well,'' Maitua said. ''In the meantime, while things seem to be working for us, there's no point in changing him from five-eighth.''
Maitua, who will play against his former club at ANZ Stadium on Friday night, could hold the key to whether another old Dog joins the Eels next season.
Willie Tonga is still under contract with North Queensland but doesn't like living in Townsville and has been given permission to talk to other clubs, with Parramatta the favourites to sign him.
He is good friends with Maitua but is also close to Cowboys general manager Peter Parr and might yet decide to stay put as he likes playing for the club.
Tonga began his career with the Eels in 2002 before joining the Bulldogs in 2004, where he played alongside Maitua for five seasons. Tonga's brother Esi is also joining Parramatta next season from the Titans.
In other contract news, Wests Tigers officials have ruled out a bid for Canterbury captain Andrew Ryan following revelations the club had made an inquiry about his services. Bulldogs sources last night told the Herald the Tigers had asked several weeks ago but could not afford him under the salary cap, and the matter had proceeded no further.
St Helens last night announced the signing of Tigers second-rower Mark Flanagan on a two-year contract, while Rugby League Week reported back-rower Simon Dwyer feared he might never play again after suffering nerve damage in the round-16 match against Canterbury.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...els-for-now-20110719-1hnbm.html#ixzz1SdV6rQ4H
Kearney last night named Hayne to wear the No.6 jersey for the first time this season against Canterbury on Friday night, although he has played five-eighth in the last two games. The switch was initially made after halfback Jeff Robson withdrew from the round-18 match against Wests Tigers, and Hayne volunteered to move from fullback to five-eighth so Casey McGuire could feed the scrums.
Robson has recovered from his hamstring injury and is available to play against the Bulldogs, but Kearney has opted to stick with Hayne at five-eighth and Luke Burt at fullback. ''I think it is a position where he has been able to benefit the team but whether it is a long-term move or a short-term move I couldn't tell you at this stage,'' Kearney said.
Advertisement: Story continues below
''At the moment it is what best suits this group of players but we don't know how long it will be that way. It is a week-by-week thing.''
With South Sydney halfback Chris Sandow and Bulldogs five-eighth Ben Roberts joining the Eels next season, Daniel Mortimer faces a tough road back from the NSW Cup where he has been playing with Wentworthville.
However, Kearney backed the 21-year-old playmaker to rise to the challenge. ''He has got a contract with us for another year that we intend to honour,'' Kearney said. ''I just feel that the way the players in those roles have gone in the past eight or so weeks has been OK so I haven't wanted to make changes.
''But 'Morts' played well for Wentworthville last week so if he continues to do that I am sure he will eventually get another chance.''
NSW coach Ricky Stuart declared five-eighth was Hayne's best position as an explanation for choosing Josh Dugan ahead of him in the Blues No.1 jersey for Origin I, but Eels utility Reni Maitua said Hayne was also one of the game's top fullbacks.
''I don't know if it's his future position. He's a brilliant fullback as well,'' Maitua said. ''In the meantime, while things seem to be working for us, there's no point in changing him from five-eighth.''
Maitua, who will play against his former club at ANZ Stadium on Friday night, could hold the key to whether another old Dog joins the Eels next season.
Willie Tonga is still under contract with North Queensland but doesn't like living in Townsville and has been given permission to talk to other clubs, with Parramatta the favourites to sign him.
He is good friends with Maitua but is also close to Cowboys general manager Peter Parr and might yet decide to stay put as he likes playing for the club.
Tonga began his career with the Eels in 2002 before joining the Bulldogs in 2004, where he played alongside Maitua for five seasons. Tonga's brother Esi is also joining Parramatta next season from the Titans.
In other contract news, Wests Tigers officials have ruled out a bid for Canterbury captain Andrew Ryan following revelations the club had made an inquiry about his services. Bulldogs sources last night told the Herald the Tigers had asked several weeks ago but could not afford him under the salary cap, and the matter had proceeded no further.
St Helens last night announced the signing of Tigers second-rower Mark Flanagan on a two-year contract, while Rugby League Week reported back-rower Simon Dwyer feared he might never play again after suffering nerve damage in the round-16 match against Canterbury.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...els-for-now-20110719-1hnbm.html#ixzz1SdV6rQ4H
