Gold Coast Titans star Jarryd Hayne sounds out Parramatta Eels about possible return
Jarryd Hayne has made enquiries about a potential homecoming at Parramatta next season.
Fairfax Media understands the Eels fielded an expression of interest from Hayne's representatives last week to sound out the club about the possibility of the prodigal son returning home.
Hayne has a one-year option in his favour to remain at the Gold Coast for $1.2 million next season, and has until the end of May to decide whether he will take up the offer to stay at the Titans.
It is understood the 29-year-old is keen to return to Sydney after becoming a father last year, and has been telling those closest to him that he still harbours a desire to wear the blue and gold.
Parramatta, who have signed Mitchell Moses and Kane Evans for next year, are aware of his interest in returning to the club, but the Eels are still scarred by Hayne's decision to turn his back on his former club and sign a lucrative deal with the Titans last year.
The Eels believed they had put a reasonable offer on the table of around $850,000 a season to lure him back to the club in 2016 after his stint in rugby sevens, however the dollars on offer at the Titans blew the Eels out of the water.
The club hasn't forgotten the manner in which Hayne dealt with the situation, and are unlikely to come to the party this time around unless he is willing to take a significant pay cut and potentially play out of position.
There's also a concern surrounding the cultural impact of bringing Hayne to the club given the disruptions that have occurred at the Titans since his arrival in August last year.
Hayne showed on Saturday night against the reigning premiers in his first game back from injury that he still has the talent to match his superstar status in the game, however he will need to convince the Eels that he wants to return for all the right reasons if they are to contemplate making him another offer.
When Hayne left he departed disgruntled given the instability at board level and the seemingly never-ending in-fighting at the club, but has since been assured by former teammates that the Eels are no longer the rabble he once knew.
The former San Francisco 49ers running back, who remains close friends with former teammate Tim Mannah, will be welcomed back with open arms by the players such is his popularity among the team.
However the emergence of fullback Bevan French, as well as the signing of Moses to play five-eighth next year, means Hayne might have to settle with a centre position if he was to return.
He would also have to look at taking at least a $400,000 pay cut, with the Eels unlikely to fork out huge money for a player about to enter the twilight years of his career.
Tension between Hayne and Titans coach Neil Henry remains, however the Titans hierarchy are aware of his drawing power and the off-field potential he brings in regards to sponsorship and membership.
Parramatta still have plenty of money to spend in next year's salary cap but won't break the budget for a player in a position they aren't desperate to strengthen.
Michael Chammas
