Jarryd Hayne has revealed talks of extending his Parramatta contract are on hold as he aims to guide the Eels into the NRL finals for the first time since 2009.
The 26-year-old has been in electrifying form in recent weeks guiding the 2012 and 2013 wooden spooners to three straight wins with six tries, leaving them one spot outside of the top eight on points differential to Canterbury, who they meet on Friday.
It comes on the back of playing an integral role in NSW finally beating Queensland to win a first State of Origin series in nine years.
The Eels are desperate to open discussions with the Test star to sign a deal that will make him a one-club man with his current agreement due to expire at the end of 2015.
But Hayne, who only signed a one-year extension last year, said he’s no interest in talking until at least the end of the season to focus himself on the push for the finals.
“I am still signed for another year,” Hayne said.“I am here to win games and play football. Distractions are no good for me at the moment I just want to focus on what I do and the rest will look after itself.”
Hayne’s performances this season are on par with the incredible displays he produced five years ago to help the Eels to the grand final on his way to winning the Dally M Medal.
However, he believes the current team are not as reliant on him as previous Eels sides who he said were not helped by the superlatives bestowed upon him by the media.
“I am pushing blokes this year not to get caught up in the hype and read the headlines,” he said.
“For me it’s important for me to give blokes who don’t get much media a rap so it’s not all about me.
“If I don’t have a forward pack that doesn’t run hard then I cannot do my thing.
“I have always known how good I am, even when we’re not going so well. “But it is a team game and if everybody is not pulling together then it doesn’t matter how good anyone is.”
