https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...s/news-story/d530806547352c1cfac5987c1ac24f81
Headlines and off-field troubles haven’t hurt Jarryd Hayne’s popularity with Eels fans
PHIL ROTHFIELD, The Sunday Telegraph
February 10, 2018 5:00pm
JARRYD Hayne remains rugby league’s biggest drawcard in the west, despite an off-season marked by off-field scandal and criticism of his pre-season training performances.
As the Eels hit back at claims he is unfit, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the dual Dally M medallist has helped drive a massive spike in membership.
The club will hit 20,000 members today, well ahead of last year’s figures, and club officials believe Hayne’s return, combined with optimism about coach Brad Arthur’s playing list, has played major part in the revival.
As part of the Eels Captains Club membership, fans can select a player to be photographed with before the season.
He is twice as popular as every other player bar fullback Clint Gutherson. Mitchell Moses, Corey Norman and Bevan French are the other most popular players but trail far behind Hayne’s fan appeal.
Hayne’s return to the Eels was overshadowed by shock news he faced rape allegations stemming from his time playing NFL in California.
He was back in the headlines last month when
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur and his 12-year-old son beat the speedster home in the team’s last endurance time trial on Central Coast sand hills.
Pictures showed Hayne is nowhere near the days when he tore apart the best defences in rugby league.
The deterioration in his body shape since he last played for the Eels in 2014 is obvious.
Not that the Eels are concerned in the countdown to Hayne’s likely return to the blue and gold in the club’s trial against Newcastle on Saturday week
The club’s head of high performance Lachlan Wilmott told The Sunday Telegraph the recruit is on target for the premiership kick-off next month.
“The media have found a couple of images that might suggest he’s further off the pace than what he actually is,” Wilmott said.
“We’re under no illusions we need to do more with him and some other players.
“But you give him the short, sharp explosive work and he’ll take anyone to the rope with that and show them what to do.”
Reports from the Gold Coast Titans last year were all about Hayne’s poor attitude and a falling out with coach Neil Henry that cost him his job.
Then Hayne himself quit his $1 million contract to return home to the Eels on half the money.
“I’ve worked with much harder athletes than Jarryd,” Wilmott said.
“Jarryd’s done everything we’ve asked of him. Absolutely no issues. No blow-ups.
“He’s been happy to do everything. Like every other player and I can’t fault him.”
Still the Eels head trainer admits his star player needs to lose several kilos.
“As players start to get older it’s always a challenge to keep weight off,” he said. “We’ve had a bit of a focus on his body composition.
“We’d like to take off two or three kilos of that extra weight and put on another one to two of muscle.
“It’s a slight adjustment to the diet and hard work.”
The Eels are $11 to win their first premiership since 1986, trailing only the Sydney Roosters, Melbourne and North Queensland.
