JARRYD HAYNE is managed by the same man who put together the massive deal to send Craig Wing to rugby union, but the hottest player in rugby league isn't looking to explore the same possibility - not this time around, anyway.
Player agent Wayne Beavis met Hayne on Tuesday, coincidentally the same day it was announced Wing was being released from the final year of his contract with South Sydney so he could accept a two-year deal worth $1.5 million with Japanese second-division team NTT Communications.
Hayne, who has been in electrifying form for Parramatta and NSW recently, is contracted to the Eels until the end of next year, but is set to become the most sought-after player in the game when he is allowed to negotiate with other NRL clubs for 2011 from November 1.
Asked if rugby in Japan or any other country was a consideration for 21-year-old Hayne, Beavis replied: "I always say that you never say never and that money speaks all languages, but at this stage Jarryd wants to do more in rugby league before he might think about anything else.
"Jarryd would obviously have the potential to earn a fortune in Japanese rugby, or elsewhere overseas in rugby. He can play a variety of positions, he's quick, he's super-strong and he can kick goals. He ticks all the boxes. But right now he's looking to set up for another three or four more years in league.
"I spent some time with Jarryd yesterday and he was interested in what 'Wingy' was doing, but that was more because he had been in camp with him in the NSW side and they had become friends. He wasn't looking to go down the same track.
"Jarryd's immediate plan is to stay in the NRL. He's still young, and he's getting better and better every week. He has been on fire recently and he's really enjoying it. He'll get plenty of time to consider other possibilities when he's coming to the end of his next contract."
It is understood Hayne is driven by the desire to get back into the Australian team for the International Quad Series against New Zealand, England and France in Europe at the end of the season. He has played one Test for the Kangaroos, in 2007, but if an Australian team was picked today he would surely be in the starting 13.
New Parramatta chief executive Paul Osborne is keen to work out a new deal with Hayne before other clubs can get the chance to talk to him. But, while Hayne is happy at the club, Osborne will be doing well to tie anything down before Hayne at least gets the chance to find out what other clubs are prepared to offer. Wing is the second NRL player this season to sign with a Japanese rugby club, after former Cronulla utility Fraser Anderson, but Beavis does not anticipate it becoming a major trend.
"These are more opportunity contracts," he said. "They use a lot of their own players over there, and there are limitations on imports, so you have to be in the right place at the right time. Wingy fitted the criteria, with his versatility and his brilliance, the same as Jarryd would."
Meanwhile, NRL referees' boss Robert Finch has declined to comment on a poll of match officials in
Rugby League Week magazine. The poll's results include Finch's son, Melbourne and former Parramatta five-eighth Brett, being voted both the game's worst-behaved player and its biggest sook.
The poll also resulted in Jared Maxwell being named the best referee, with 50 per cent of the vote, ahead of Shayne Hayne (30 per cent) and Ben Cummins and last year's grand final referee - Tony Archer - each with 10 per cent. Asked if he wished to talk about the poll, Finch replied: "I'm not interested in commenting."
NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley described the results of the poll as being of little consequence, adding: "The nature of these surveys is that they're anonymous, so it's hard to take them too seriously. We're not bothered by it."
And John Fordham, the manager of fallen Knights star Matthew Johns, said yesterday Johns had ruled himself out of consideration for the Newcastle coaching job next year.
"These are more opportunity contracts," he said. "They use a lot of their own players over there, and there are limitations on imports, so you have to be in the right place at the right time. Wingy fitted the criteria, with his versatility and his brilliance, the same as Jarryd would."
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