Legends hail Eels centres

[Gronk]

Legends hail Eels centres


Article from:
By James Hooper
January 27, 2008 12:00am

MINTO millionaires Krisnan Inu and Jarryd Hayne have been hailed as potentially Parramatta's best centre pairing since four-time premiership-winning duo Mick Cronin and Steve Ella.
And the Eels' new international centres, Inu, 20, and Hayne, 19, rank among the youngest three-quarter pairing at club level in the code's 100-year history.
Retired Test centre Steve Renouf, nicknamed the Pearl for his skills and dynamic speed, believes Inu and Hayne - who have just signed lucrative deals to stay at Parramatta - can develop into a lethal long-term midfield for the club.
"As a centre pairing, there's no reason why they can't form the type of combination (of Cronin and Ella), they've definitely got the opportunity to do it,'' Renouf said.
"I can't believe the confidence they carry at such a young age. It's crazy but it's good to see. They're not afraid to have a go and that's what benefits a team.
"I'm sure they'd love to be part of Parramatta winning a grand final - it would be the first one in a long time.''
Cronin and Ella formed one of the Eels' most prolific centre combinations in the club's 61-year history during the 1980s.
The duo starred in all four Eels premierships and have backed the latest pairing as having the quality to end Parramatta's 21-year title drought.
"You just tend to think they'll make a fist of it,'' Cronin said.
"They both did some things last year that only the really special players can do.
"Hayne did some spectacular things in his State of Origin debut and Inu was the same in his first Test.''
And Ella added: "They're both young, exciting players and it's great to see they've decided to stay at Parramatta.
"Their destiny is in their own hands, they can achieve whatever they want to achieve. They've both already played for their countries and that just shows what wonderful talents they are.''
Parramatta coach Michael Hagan has confirmed Inu will assume the left centre position, with Hayne to form a partnership on the right side with winger Eric Grothe.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23115254-5006066,00.html

 

[KaboobieGarfunkelShazam]

Love articles like this, especially when it is the opinion of a centre legend, such as Susan.


I remember after Tim Smith's debut year, how everyone said that it was massive pressure having that much expectation on a young halfback's shoulders and that nerves would probably get the better of him, and they were sort of proved right.

These two?

Too confident and also easygoing for the pressure of expectation to get to them, as I think they have already proven last season.

Together, they can only dominate the 3/4 kingdom of the comp.

 

[Parra2006]

i am pumped for the 08 session.

cant wait. articles like this make the wait evem more painful

 

[Parra2006]

i am pumped for the 08 session.

cant wait. articles like this make the wait evem more painful

 

[Twizzle]

pretty amazing claim seeing as though they have never paired one another in the centres yet

 

[Ron Jeremy]

i've been saying for ages that Hayne should be centre.

 

[parra-matters]

Hayne could play hooker and excel he has that much confidence he'd make a go in any position.

 

[caylo]

Hayne could play hooker and excel he has that much confidence he'd make a go in any position.

That is very true.

And from when Hages got here he was asked when Hayne would take the #1 jersey, and he mentioned that he was young and wouldn't stay on the wing forever. He mentioned that he would make a move eventually to fullback or the centres, and from then I thought he always saw Hayne as a centre.

Hayne sat next to Tahu on the right side of the feild for long enough and I think that has been a great learning curve for him, what this means for Ben Smith I am unsure of, but he may have to move on because Burt is only 26, Hayne and Inu are both very young. He would struggle to break into the backline again.

 

[KaboobieGarfunkelShazam]

Burt is only 26 . . . .

This amazes me. He has been with us for so long he seems like a veteran. It is refreshing to have this pointed out, as I think he was playing the best football of his career before his injury last season.

The more years he's got in him, the better.

 

[FUIFUI_MOIMOI]

what does this mean for benny smith? :S

 

[parra-matters]

Ben will have to play well coming from the bench to get back in the starting side, maybe a move to lock playing a similar role to Wagon.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

I for one am very curious as to what will be happening to Ben Smith. It would not suprize me if the Cowboys, Titans, Knights or Souths pick him up. I would feel very sad if Benny left so I really do hope he moves into the back row.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

what does this mean for benny smith? :S

for the good of parra released

 

[Eelementary]

with Hayne to form a partnership on the right side with winger Eric Grothe

Interesting.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Interesting.

I think that was always going to happen because of Grothe's defence. Hayne and Grothe is definatly a defencive move. Hayne being the better defender then Inu and with Grothe being shakey in defence, it is the right decision.

If I think I know what Hages will do, im sure he will be putting a good defending winger next to Inu. Almost definatly going to be Reddy unless Taulima Tautai's defence is better then I think. I have only seen him play a few times so could someone else tell me how he is in defence?

 

[eels_fan_01]

what does this mean for benny smith? :S

Means that hes f**ked.

 

[parra-all-the-way]

if the centre pairing works out, it will be very hard for ben to get back into the team, what a great situation to be in, competion for positions...i would see him at lock but with wagon and mateo, who knows.

 

[Stagger eel]

I think that was always going to happen because of Grothe's defence. Hayne and Grothe is definatly a defencive move. Hayne being the better defender then Inu and with Grothe being shakey in defence, it is the right decision.

If I think I know what Hages will do, im sure he will be putting a good defending winger next to Inu. Almost definatly going to be Reddy unless Taulima Tautai's defence is better then I think. I have only seen him play a few times so could someone else tell me how he is in defence?

he can certainly dominate the attacking player but he's technique has got him in trouble several times last year.

 

[Stagger eel]

for the good of parra released

so is there any specific player he's holding back?

 

[parra-all-the-way]

stagger, i thing it is a case of where do u put him if the team is performing well.

1 burt
2 grothe
3 hayne
4 inu
5 ?? reddy
6 finch
7 smith
8 cayless
9 riddell
10 fui
11 hindy
12 mateo
13 wqgon

Maybe a bench spot?