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Jarryd Hayne looks back to move forward at Parramatta Eels
Opening up: Jarryd Hayne at the NRL season launch this week. Photo: Getty Images
Jarryd Hayne chose the NRL's lavish launch during the week as heavy-hitters, celebrities, the rich and the shameless milled to rub shoulders with him to say that he knew the lament of the housing commission kid and the pitfalls for the individual granted overnight everything he'd ever wished for.
''You always question, 'Why did I grow up with only my mum and not my dad?','' Hayne said, oblivious to the trays stacked with champagne flutes and delicacies he could never have imagined while raised by his mother in Sydney's south-west.
'''Why did I not have a family? Why did I grow up in public housing and not have a pool in the backyard like some of my friends?' Thoughts like that, they can get the better of you. When you're young in life they matter; sit back and think [about your lot], 'this is bullshit'.''
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When Hayne was unleashed for Parramatta in 2008 his exploits captivated the masses. The teenager proved a breeze could crack stonewall-like defence, while his opponents realised the only predictability about his game was it's unpredictability.
Hayne recalled how that early success almost ruined him when he would go out, destroy the opposition and then himself by getting drunk and carrying on. The kid, who grew up denied the largesse some of his friends took for granted, gambled wads of cash without a second thought. Now 26, and entrenched as a leader at success-starved Parramatta, Hayne realises his old path was blazed by a cycle of fun and fame but it ended in Kings Cross when someone drew a gun after an exchange and fired at him.
A few months later, after he represented Fiji in the 2008 World Cup - eligible through his father's heritage - Hayne was so moved by the humility his Bati (warrior) teammates displayed while they prepared for action on a small island off Suva he joined them in embracing Christianity.
''I realised that when I was young I didn't get 'it','' he said. ''But you go to church and realise you could only think like that [about materialism] if you were going to be here forever - you're not.
''Back in '08 I was a bit wild, wasn't really focused. I'd lose focus on things, even footy. I'd wind in and out. Finding God changed my life and it's helped me to focus and to understand loyalty and success; realise how it can be the downfall and how it can be uplifting. It's an ongoing journey and a battle, too.''
He's watched the likes of Feleti Mateo, Joe Galuvao, Krisnan Inu, Justin Horo and Daniel Mortimer leave Pirtek Stadium to experience grand finals in different colours. Despite Parramatta finishing the last two seasons as wooden spooners, Hayne insisted he'd never felt a pang of jealousy for their good fortune.
''I'd rather play in a grand final for Parramatta than with another club I'm sure the guys [who've played in a grand final elsewhere] feel it as well,'' he said. ''I'm sure they feel, 'We should do it for Parra'. Players leaving, it's just one of those things, a part of the game and we're used to it.
''Some of the guys who left were leaders who had influence on the team, not just through their actions on the field but because of their character and who they were. That was the step-up I needed to take, it's been enjoyable but tough, too. You grow up quick and while Tim Mannah has been great - brilliant - I sometimes wish there were some older boys around the club to help.''
Parramatta appointed Brad Arthur to take over from last year's coach Ricky Stuart, who broke his contract to return to Canberra to guide the Raiders. Rather then feel abandoned, Hayne said he'd accepted Stuart's decision was driven by his family situation and had only positive thoughts for someone he called a ''mate''.
''We always have a good yarn,'' he said. '' I have a lot of time and respect for Ricky I consider him a friend. He had his reasons for going so there's definitely no problem as far as I'm concerned.
''We couldn't have signed a better coach than Brad, that was pleasing. He really fits in with the team. He's a smart coach, he understands the game. He genuinely loves the players and wants to see them do well.
''He reinforces that, he communicates that.''
Hayne said it ought to be no secret he considered fullback the place where he could best serve a team whose roster was re-enforced this year by former NSW Origin back William Hopoate, English forward Lee Mossop, five-eighth Corey Norman from Brisbane, forward David Gower from Manly and South Sydney hooker Nathan Peats.
''Fullback,'' Hayne said instinctively when asked to nominate ''his'' position. ''At fullback you finish a lot of things off. You don't create a lot, you do a lot of finishing.''
In the countdown to a match Hayne is found with a number of his teammates who pray together, and while he realised there would be some who sneer it hadn't translated to premiership points, he was confident patience and persistence would eventually be rewarded.
''I guess we need to be realistic and accept we probably won't be among the favourites to make the top four,'' he said. ''It's about competing and building. There has always been effort, the want and the will. There's always going to be hard times and I guess it is now about seeing the good times in - it's what we focus on.
''We have shown in patches what we can do, but patches don't win matches. We want to be in contention come spring. For me it's having the energy and the desire to do well.''
It's in the so-called Hayne Plane's DNA to razzle and dazzle. He was rewarded for that in 2009 when named the Dally M player of the year, and he used the presentation to declare his mother Jodie was his ''rock''.
Five years on he admitted there were occasions, when he needed a lift, that he would watch clips from the season he spearheaded the Eels to a shock grand final appearance.
''When I'm looking for motivation or down on my confidence I watch things that can make me realise how good I can be,'' he said. ''As a player you always want to set high standards. I don't go out playing football thinking of how people might see me. I play footy; people can have their own opinion. I do like to do freakish things, I like to test my skill, test my ability. That motivates me, as soon as I lose that or the love for what I do, that's when I'll move on.''
Hayne adopted Proverbs 27:17 - Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another - when he became a Christian. You can't help but suggest that's as relevant to his mission at Parramatta as it is his ''journey'' in life.
''There are plenty of times I've stuffed up, things I've been embarrassed about,'' he said.
''At the end of the day I'm human, we make mistakes. I think you don't go into [religion] with a perception of perfection, it's not designed for the perfect if you were, why go? If you're perfect, you don't need church.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...amatta-eels-20140301-33sqn.html#ixzz2uqNM2TsS
Jarryd Hayne chose the NRL's lavish launch during the week as heavy-hitters, celebrities, the rich and the shameless milled to rub shoulders with him to say that he knew the lament of the housing commission kid and the pitfalls for the individual granted overnight everything he'd ever wished for.
''You always question, 'Why did I grow up with only my mum and not my dad?','' Hayne said, oblivious to the trays stacked with champagne flutes and delicacies he could never have imagined while raised by his mother in Sydney's south-west.
'''Why did I not have a family? Why did I grow up in public housing and not have a pool in the backyard like some of my friends?' Thoughts like that, they can get the better of you. When you're young in life they matter; sit back and think [about your lot], 'this is bullshit'.''
Advertisement
When Hayne was unleashed for Parramatta in 2008 his exploits captivated the masses. The teenager proved a breeze could crack stonewall-like defence, while his opponents realised the only predictability about his game was it's unpredictability.
Hayne recalled how that early success almost ruined him when he would go out, destroy the opposition and then himself by getting drunk and carrying on. The kid, who grew up denied the largesse some of his friends took for granted, gambled wads of cash without a second thought. Now 26, and entrenched as a leader at success-starved Parramatta, Hayne realises his old path was blazed by a cycle of fun and fame but it ended in Kings Cross when someone drew a gun after an exchange and fired at him.
A few months later, after he represented Fiji in the 2008 World Cup - eligible through his father's heritage - Hayne was so moved by the humility his Bati (warrior) teammates displayed while they prepared for action on a small island off Suva he joined them in embracing Christianity.
''I realised that when I was young I didn't get 'it','' he said. ''But you go to church and realise you could only think like that [about materialism] if you were going to be here forever - you're not.
''Back in '08 I was a bit wild, wasn't really focused. I'd lose focus on things, even footy. I'd wind in and out. Finding God changed my life and it's helped me to focus and to understand loyalty and success; realise how it can be the downfall and how it can be uplifting. It's an ongoing journey and a battle, too.''
He's watched the likes of Feleti Mateo, Joe Galuvao, Krisnan Inu, Justin Horo and Daniel Mortimer leave Pirtek Stadium to experience grand finals in different colours. Despite Parramatta finishing the last two seasons as wooden spooners, Hayne insisted he'd never felt a pang of jealousy for their good fortune.
''I'd rather play in a grand final for Parramatta than with another club I'm sure the guys [who've played in a grand final elsewhere] feel it as well,'' he said. ''I'm sure they feel, 'We should do it for Parra'. Players leaving, it's just one of those things, a part of the game and we're used to it.
''Some of the guys who left were leaders who had influence on the team, not just through their actions on the field but because of their character and who they were. That was the step-up I needed to take, it's been enjoyable but tough, too. You grow up quick and while Tim Mannah has been great - brilliant - I sometimes wish there were some older boys around the club to help.''
Parramatta appointed Brad Arthur to take over from last year's coach Ricky Stuart, who broke his contract to return to Canberra to guide the Raiders. Rather then feel abandoned, Hayne said he'd accepted Stuart's decision was driven by his family situation and had only positive thoughts for someone he called a ''mate''.
''We always have a good yarn,'' he said. '' I have a lot of time and respect for Ricky I consider him a friend. He had his reasons for going so there's definitely no problem as far as I'm concerned.
''We couldn't have signed a better coach than Brad, that was pleasing. He really fits in with the team. He's a smart coach, he understands the game. He genuinely loves the players and wants to see them do well.
''He reinforces that, he communicates that.''
Hayne said it ought to be no secret he considered fullback the place where he could best serve a team whose roster was re-enforced this year by former NSW Origin back William Hopoate, English forward Lee Mossop, five-eighth Corey Norman from Brisbane, forward David Gower from Manly and South Sydney hooker Nathan Peats.
''Fullback,'' Hayne said instinctively when asked to nominate ''his'' position. ''At fullback you finish a lot of things off. You don't create a lot, you do a lot of finishing.''
In the countdown to a match Hayne is found with a number of his teammates who pray together, and while he realised there would be some who sneer it hadn't translated to premiership points, he was confident patience and persistence would eventually be rewarded.
''I guess we need to be realistic and accept we probably won't be among the favourites to make the top four,'' he said. ''It's about competing and building. There has always been effort, the want and the will. There's always going to be hard times and I guess it is now about seeing the good times in - it's what we focus on.
''We have shown in patches what we can do, but patches don't win matches. We want to be in contention come spring. For me it's having the energy and the desire to do well.''
It's in the so-called Hayne Plane's DNA to razzle and dazzle. He was rewarded for that in 2009 when named the Dally M player of the year, and he used the presentation to declare his mother Jodie was his ''rock''.
Five years on he admitted there were occasions, when he needed a lift, that he would watch clips from the season he spearheaded the Eels to a shock grand final appearance.
''When I'm looking for motivation or down on my confidence I watch things that can make me realise how good I can be,'' he said. ''As a player you always want to set high standards. I don't go out playing football thinking of how people might see me. I play footy; people can have their own opinion. I do like to do freakish things, I like to test my skill, test my ability. That motivates me, as soon as I lose that or the love for what I do, that's when I'll move on.''
Hayne adopted Proverbs 27:17 - Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another - when he became a Christian. You can't help but suggest that's as relevant to his mission at Parramatta as it is his ''journey'' in life.
''There are plenty of times I've stuffed up, things I've been embarrassed about,'' he said.
''At the end of the day I'm human, we make mistakes. I think you don't go into [religion] with a perception of perfection, it's not designed for the perfect if you were, why go? If you're perfect, you don't need church.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...amatta-eels-20140301-33sqn.html#ixzz2uqNM2TsS
