The solution is to have him on the wing in D and at the 1 in A. Think of him as Lionel Messi, don't waste his limited energy on anything thankless.
Theoretically I can see where you're coming from. Take the responsibility of the position of his shoulders in D & let him do his thing in A. But isn't that a bit like eating the muffin top & leaving the dregs for others?
(Seinfeld fans will get it, lol)
What #1 would be happy to take on all the responsibility in D but give up the opportunity's in A?
Couldn't he do the same from the wing? Stay in position in D & have a roving role in A. It worked well for him against the Saints.
The wing position suits his temperament. He's an excellent cover defender (when the mood strikes) He can help the forwards by making runs out of their 25 (when he's in the mood) like so many other wingers. And inject himself in attack by backing up ball runners.
By accepting the wing position (And a wingers pay check) it would extend his playing career.
But as you said, he could possibly want to play rugby for Fiji (Would they want him? He wasn't much help to them in the RL World Cup) so who knows?
(It's an incredibly selfish thing to do. Sam Burgess, one of the best league forwards in the game, pushed aside other rugby forwards chance to play in a WC. Rugby forwards who put in week in week out, only for a RL player, who has no allegiance to rugby what-so-ever, to waltz in & take their chance for a spot. And we see how that worked out for England & for Sam)
At this stage in his playing career, running off to chase yet another dream would be the end of Haynes RL career in Aus. I'd be surprised if Parra would want him back.
