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DANIEL Anderson has dropped his first bombshell as Parramatta coach, with Jarryd Hayne poised to play five-eighth this season.
The move is designed to resurrect the Eels' attack and re-ignite one of the NRL's most exciting talents.
"I want Jarryd to touch the ball as much as he possibly can, because he's a very talented player,'' Anderson said.
"He's been training in different positions at the moment, fullback and five-eighth included. I always like my players to have a couple of positions up their sleeve.
"I still haven't come to an absolute conclusion, but we should know by the time we play the Roosters in a trial (February 28).''
Hayne, 20, has been running at five-eighth since mid-January, while also shuffling between fullback and centre. The former NSW Origin winger is likely to get his first run in the No6 jumper in a trial against Penrith on February 21.
Despite a calamitous 2008 - starting when he was shot at during a nightclub altercation on March 3 - Hayne believes the traumatic events of last year have steeled him for his bid to fill the Parramatta hot seat.
"As much as I hated last year, I'm glad I went through it all,'' Hayne told The Sunday Telegraph.
"I wouldn't change last year for the world, I've come out a better person. I'm stronger for it.
"This year has been good, the coach has really put it on me this year to come out and put my best foot forward.
"I'm really looking forward to the move, I'm excited to be around the ball. There's not a lot of pressure on me, playing five-eighth.
"I don't have to be like a normal five-eighth, because Feleti (Mateo) is still there as a ball-player.''
Desperate to regain the faith of his team-mates and answer the challenge from Anderson, Hayne has added more muscle to his 100kg frame. He has also thrived under the private tuition of Andrew Johns.
"You learn so much off Joey, it's crazy,'' Hayne said.
He comes down once a week. He's been out of the game a year and a bit and he comes to training and it's like he's just going for a stroll in the park. He's unbelievable.
"I'm really looking forward to it, I'm excited to be around the ball and close to the action.
"I know it's going to be tough and the boys got a bit of a shock the first time I jumped in there, but it's been all right.''
The success of Hayne's trial performances will determine if he stays at five-eighth, with Mateo remaining a definite option should the move backfire.
Just five days out from his 21st birthday, Hayne claimed his focus for the 2009 season had shifted away from the limelight of winning representative jumpers.
"I'm more worried about my own form and being consistent for 26 weeks, staying injury-free and focusing on preparing my body as best I can,'' he said.
"The last couple of years, I haven't really done that.
"There have been areas that have been really good for me and others that I've really slackened off.
"This year I've started really well in the gym and I want to carry that through until the end of the year.''
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,25022072-5016547,00.html
The move is designed to resurrect the Eels' attack and re-ignite one of the NRL's most exciting talents.
"I want Jarryd to touch the ball as much as he possibly can, because he's a very talented player,'' Anderson said.
"He's been training in different positions at the moment, fullback and five-eighth included. I always like my players to have a couple of positions up their sleeve.
"I still haven't come to an absolute conclusion, but we should know by the time we play the Roosters in a trial (February 28).''
Hayne, 20, has been running at five-eighth since mid-January, while also shuffling between fullback and centre. The former NSW Origin winger is likely to get his first run in the No6 jumper in a trial against Penrith on February 21.
Despite a calamitous 2008 - starting when he was shot at during a nightclub altercation on March 3 - Hayne believes the traumatic events of last year have steeled him for his bid to fill the Parramatta hot seat.
"As much as I hated last year, I'm glad I went through it all,'' Hayne told The Sunday Telegraph.
"I wouldn't change last year for the world, I've come out a better person. I'm stronger for it.
"This year has been good, the coach has really put it on me this year to come out and put my best foot forward.
"I'm really looking forward to the move, I'm excited to be around the ball. There's not a lot of pressure on me, playing five-eighth.
"I don't have to be like a normal five-eighth, because Feleti (Mateo) is still there as a ball-player.''
Desperate to regain the faith of his team-mates and answer the challenge from Anderson, Hayne has added more muscle to his 100kg frame. He has also thrived under the private tuition of Andrew Johns.
"You learn so much off Joey, it's crazy,'' Hayne said.
He comes down once a week. He's been out of the game a year and a bit and he comes to training and it's like he's just going for a stroll in the park. He's unbelievable.
"I'm really looking forward to it, I'm excited to be around the ball and close to the action.
"I know it's going to be tough and the boys got a bit of a shock the first time I jumped in there, but it's been all right.''
The success of Hayne's trial performances will determine if he stays at five-eighth, with Mateo remaining a definite option should the move backfire.
Just five days out from his 21st birthday, Hayne claimed his focus for the 2009 season had shifted away from the limelight of winning representative jumpers.
"I'm more worried about my own form and being consistent for 26 weeks, staying injury-free and focusing on preparing my body as best I can,'' he said.
"The last couple of years, I haven't really done that.
"There have been areas that have been really good for me and others that I've really slackened off.
"This year I've started really well in the gym and I want to carry that through until the end of the year.''
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,25022072-5016547,00.html
