Axe to fall on Hayne for opener
Greg Prichard | March 6, 2008
PARRAMATTA are set to stand down Jarryd Hayne from their first-round game against the Bulldogs as a result of his involvement in an early morning shooting incident at Kings Cross.
The club will announce a decision today after a meeting between coach Michael Hagan, football manager Andrew Hill and the players' leadership group, which includes captain Nathan Cayless, Nathan Hindmarsh and Chad Robinson.
The Eels' course of action may also apply to Hayne's clubmates Weller Hauraki and Junior Paulo, who were with him when an unknown person fired a gun at him from a car about 4.20am on Monday. The gunman had earlier been in an argument with Mark Gasnier inside a McDonald's restaurant, when Hayne went to the St George Illawarra captain's aid.
After several days off following their final trial match, the Parramatta squad - including Hayne, Hauraki and Paulo - resumed training yesterday. But before they went out on to the field, the players were read the riot act by Hagan in the dressing room.
Hagan and Parramatta officials are trying to get the balance right between their concern for the fact Hayne, Hauraki or Paulo could have been killed and their disappointment that the players had put themselves in a vulnerable position - out late in a district where trouble isn't hard to find.
The coach told the Herald if players were stood down from next Saturday's game at ANZ Stadium it would represent a combination of a penalty and a reaction to their fragile state of mind in the wake of a narrow escape.
"He's rattled by the whole thing," Hagan said of Hayne. Asked about Hauraki and Paulo, Hagan replied: "They're not too good either."
Hagan is incensed that an off-field incident involving Parramatta players occurred at the end of a strong preparation for this season - particularly after a string of other incidents involving Eels stars in recent years.
He was angry that players were "not taking the hint", adding: "We've had plenty of education and plenty of experience with this type of behaviour and I think everyone's sick and tired of it, to be perfectly honest. I think the team, the football club, the fans and the sponsors have been let down.
"No one's saying you can't go out and enjoy yourself, but you've got to know where the line in the sand is and you can't put yourself in that situation. There have been enough examples in the game, in particular with our football club in the pre-season, and I'm getting tired of it.
"I think the fans are sick of hearing and reading about it, and I think it's time the players took some responsibility for what they do. You can't babysit them 24 hours a day."
Hagan, Fitzgerald and Hill met after training yesterday, when they discussed various options for their treatment of Hayne and the other pair.
Normally, Hayne would be an automatic selection at centre, while Hauraki would be a chance for the bench and Paulo would probably just miss out on the first-grade squad.
"It could have been worse," Hagan said of the incident. "We could have been talking about more serious matters, which I'd hate to think we'd have to talk about at some stage. [But] we're having to talk about behaviour again, and I'm sure we'll deal with the players in the appropriate manner."
Hindmarsh said yesterday that, because of the unusual circumstances, it was a difficult decision for the leadership group, Hagan and officials to get right.
"I'm just glad the guys weren't hurt - that's the main thing," Hindmarsh said. "Everyone around town seemed to be complaining that they were out at 4am, but they were lucky they weren't shot.
"Now we have to decide what is best for the team. Whether that means standing anyone down for the first game is the right way to go, we'll have to wait and see."
.... unfortunately News Limited seem to put their own egos and ratings before the game of rugby league
