Parramatta officials working on plan to bring Jarryd Hayne home to Eels
PARRAMATTA officials are already working on a blueprint to bring Jarryd Hayne home, with Eels chairman Steve Sharp revealing: If hes available, we will make it happen.
Only 48 hours after becoming shock Auckland Nines champions, Sharp told The Daily Telegraph his board was working on a five-year financial plan that includes a contract for the San Francisco 49er.
Despite being fined $465,000 for salary cap breaches in 2015, and possibly starting this season on minus four competition points, the Eels are confident Hayne can be catapulted into a backline set to boast Test recruits Kieran Foran and *Michael Jennings.
The news comes after the 27-year-old, at a Super Bowl promotion on Monday, revealed Parramatta would be his home should he ever return to the NRL.
Like I always said, if I ever came back Id go to Parra if they wanted me, Hayne told Triple Ms The Grill Team.
That was always something I said from the start. Its funny when you see media outlets say Im doing this and Im doing that ... if you believe that youre a clown.
On Tuesday, Sharp continued the good news for Eels fans, insisting his club would find whatever cash was required to sign Hayne a figure that could reach as much as $1.5 million.
This comes despite the club already boasting arguably the best NRL signing package for 2016 with Foran and Jennings joined by NSW Origin enforcer Beau Scott and Cronulla fullback Michael Gordon.
Can we have Jarryd Hayne at Parramatta? The short answer is yes, Sharp said.
Ive been saying for a long time now that Jarryd, hes an Eels man through and through. This is his junior club, hes loved by the fans and, despite some of the reports circulating, Parramatta is a great club where people want to be.
Were already working on plans for where we want to be in five years and weve factored in Jarryd being available.
Asked if Parramatta would require the NRLs mysterious war chest as famously announced by former CEO Dave Smith to bring Hayne home, Sharp continued: Obviously wed love to have that assistance there.
But who knows? It was Dave Smith who talked that up.
He wanted to use it for bringing back guys like Jarryd, Sonny Bill Williams and Israel Folau. But where that is all at now hes gone we dont know.
But if that money isnt there, we will still make it happen.
Hayne has been heavily linked to the Roosters in recent months, especially after the NFL rookie was pictured meeting with Tricolours coach Trent Robinson.
However, the pair, who are both huge fans of English Premier League club Liverpool, simply crossed paths when, separately, they were invited to meet the Legends team that played here in January.
Yet while Hayne has confirmed his allegiances to the Blue and Gold, Sharp warned there was a real possibility the champion fullback would never don their jumper again.
I can see Jarryd playing NFL for the next five years, the Eels *chairman said.
I really believe hell make it.
When you consider what weve seen him do already in his rookie season, the confidence he received, and couple that with another pre-season ... I can see Jarryd being a success there until he is 31 or 32.
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