Parramatta will offer Hayne new Eels deal: Arthur
Parramatta will offer Jarryd Hayne a contract for next season after recently informing him of their desire to keep him at the club.
The Eels and Hayne had agreed to hold off discussions until after the season however Hayne's irresistible form over the past two months has already convinced the club he can add value in 2019.
Hayne, who is off contract at the end of the year, hasn't put pen to paper however the club is confident of retaining his services despite a possible lure to chase a spot in Fiji's squad for next year's rugby union World Cup.
"He knows we want him," Eels coach Brad Arthur told NRL.com.
"We're not pressuring him. But he knows that if he wants to play in the NRL that we're the club for him. We want him at this club.
"It's getting to the stage in a couple of weeks time we need to finalise a few things with our roster. We're talking at the moment and we're having ongoing conversations without too much pressure. He just needs to make sure he plays well the next three weeks and we'll go from there."
Hayne is yet to decide whether he wants to continue playing in the NRL, however the Eels are hoping the lure of a new stadium and the chance to lead the club back to the finals will convince him to remain.
Hayne has nine tries, eight line breaks and 48 tackle breaks in the last eight weeks and has proven difficult to contain roaming around the paddock in different positions.
In the past Hayne's commitment has often come under the microscope. He was unfairly criticised following an injury-plagued opening to the season - Arthur believes it was his commitment to the team which contributed to his injury woes.
"He tried to get back early to get back on the park for his teammates that's how much it meant to him to help out," Arthur said.
"Everyone keeps saying he's playing well now because it's contract time, but that's got nothing to do with it. He was injured. Simple as that. He's played since the Cowboys game, which is eight games ago, and he's been consistently in our best players each week.
"Some weeks he might not be the best player or score three tries like he did last week but he's been a real point of difference for us.
"When the boys are sitting there lacing up their boots and they look around and see him there, I've noticed a bit more confidence about them."
https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/08/15/parramatta-will-offer-jarryd-hayne-new-eels-deal-brad-arthur/
