Write off Hayne at your peril

[yy_cheng]

Write off Hayne at your peril

May 16, 2012 - 9:41AM

• Comments 1

All or nothing: the engimatic Jarryd Hayne. Photo: Getty Images

I wholeheartedly agree with Gorden Tallis that Jarryd Hayne could explode at Etihad Stadium next Wednesday night. Despite the fact the Parramatta fullback hasn’t been setting the world on fire at club level, I’ve no doubt he will repay the faith Ricky Stuart has shown in him come State of Origin I.

So how to describe Jarryd Hayne? He fits into a category more common in rugby league than you know. He is the brilliant and enigmatic type who is often misunderstood.

These types don’t possess the constitution to play consistent football over long periods of time. At their best, they are close to matching those rare stars that have an attitude to match their brilliance - think Darren Lockyer, Andrew Johns, Billy Slater - but their performances vary enough to leave you extremely frustrated at times.

"But these guys are professional footballers," I hear you say. "Shouldn’t they be turning up every week and giving their all?"

The short answer is yes, but only in a perfect world. The longer answer takes into account real world psychology where no two people see the world the same way and what's important to a person may fluctuate.

When young men like Jarryd Hayne set out on the professional rugby league journey, it’s all new and exciting. They are brilliant and things come easy to them, kind of like those kids at school who didn’t have to study to ace an exam. Work ethic, desire and attitude are not necessarily attributes they have required along the way to climb the mountain.

Eventually they arrive at the top end of town, and having achieved a reasonable level of success and accepted the ensuing pay rise, that’s when things start to become more serious.

This is when players like Hayne can sometimes get rattled. A high level of pressure and expectation engulfs them, blurring what used to be relatively easy. It’s at this point the Hayne types cease to enjoy what they’re doing and so begin to disengage.

Conversely, players like Lockyer, Johns and Slater thrive on this same pressure and expectation. All in different ways mind you, but it most definitely drives them to steel up for the fight - sometimes just to prove the critics wrong.

So how do coaches handle the brilliant footballers that go walkabout? I believe it’s mainly about helping them rediscover the fun in what they do. They tend not to have the intestinal fortitude to find pleasure in the public scrutiny, so reconnecting them to the forgotten parts of the job they love is super important.

Make no mistake, accountability around standards and behaviour must still remain. Structure is critical when creating an environment in which these players can thrive. They must know where they stand, what will and won’t be tolerated.

Is Greg Inglis not a perfect example of this right now? The Rabbitohs' new number one has looked remarkably happy for the past two months and it shows up every time he carries the ball. It wasn’t more money or a reborn sense of duty that put a smile back on GI’s face, he just likes going to work again.

Michael McGuire knows what makes his star player tick and has given him some boundaries and an enjoyable routine to keep him fully engaged. The end result: coach, player and fans all partake in the upside.

I no longer expect Hayne to play Dally M Medal-winning football week in week out. But I know he can be the most devastating ball runner in the competition when he’s on, and even though it pains me to say it, I’m thinking he might be on next Wednesday night in Melbourne.

Origin aside, the best part of this story is the faith one man has shown in another, giving one of our best the opportunity to get back to his best. This may very well prove to be the catalyst to reignite one flailing player and a struggling NRL club. The NSW coach getting shouted a thank you schooner by the Parramatta coach come season’s end? Now I’d like to see that!



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/write-off-hayne-at-your-peril-20120516-1ypth.html#ixzz1v0r1vG3t

McGuire again #-o

 

[Suitman]

That's an excellent article.

Suity

 

[Gronk]

Time to shut them up Jarryd.

 

[spartan2153]

Gorden tallis is the only one who sticks up for hayne & says people expect miracles from him every game.

 

[Parra Pride]

Slater being mentioned in the same breath as Lockyer, and Johns makes me want to throw up.

#SlaterIsNoWhereNearTheirLevel

 

[Eels Dude]

Who is the article by? Sounds like a former footy player. I'd rather not give the SMH website another hit to find out.

 

[strider]

Who is the article by? Sounds like a former footy player. I'd rather not give the SMH website another hit to find out.

For starters you should give the SMH website lots of hits - they are kind enough to allow sites like this to re-post their articles in their entirety.

But to answer the question - yes an ex footballer - and he's a genius tooves. Yikes!

 

[hineyrulz]

Benny Ikin wrote that :crazy: Shocked it was very good.

 

[parra pete]

Ikin sees cleary now.


Good article though. I shudder to think how the Eels would be without J Hayne...

 

[spartan2153]

Ikin sees cleary now.


Good article though. I shudder to think how the Eels would be without J Hayne...

well we better get used to it, Cant he him staying beyond next year

 

[strider]

Ikin sees cleary now.


Good article though. I shudder to think how the Eels would be without J Hayne...

true - i think we'd all jump ship and support another team ... oh hang on ...

 

[lingard]

I hope Jarryd stays, but I don`t think he will, either. I reckon Hayne is fantastic. Greatly under-rated and over-criticised IMO. I still reckon if he was playing for Manly or Melbourne or Brisbane, or even Souths or Cronulla right now, he`d be one of the greatest players of the modern era. Wherever he goes after Parramatta, I`ll be supporting him as one of my all-time favourite players. Go Jarryd!

 

[Parra Pride]

true - i think we'd all jump ship and support another team ... oh hang on ...

Only half hearted merkins jump ship.

#They'reStupidMerkinsToo

 

[yy_cheng]

I hope Jarryd stays, but I don`t think he will, either. I reckon Hayne is fantastic. Greatly under-rated and over-criticised IMO. I still reckon if he was playing for Manly or Melbourne or Brisbane, or even Souths or Cronulla right now, he`d be one of the greatest players of the modern era. Wherever he goes after Parramatta, I`ll be supporting him as one of my all-time favourite players. Go Jarryd!

i share the same sentiments.

who would chase him though?

tigers, gc, drags?

 

[Maroubra Eel]

I think Kearney brings out the best in him.

 

[strider]

I think Kearney brings out the best in him.

well he IS the 6th best player in the NRL atm apparently, so yeah

 

[bartman]

i share the same sentiments.

who would chase him though?

tigers, gc, drags?

Me too, he could be the greatest league player of an era.

But I think he'll be chased by some of the union teams (waratahs, brumbies, reds, force) and playing in the centre$ in union will probably look a lot more attractive than doing the hard work at fullback behind beaten league sides.

 

[parra pete]

Only half hearted merkins jump ship.

#They'reStupidMerkinsToo

Who farted?
Good on ya Parra Pride...stick with them, they need your support...Been there, done that...

 

[Redback71]

Man I hope so. was it not around Origin time that Hayne found his groove back in 2009 and went on a 9 week blitz.

 

[Wally21]

I hope we are all wrong and he stays. however, I tend to agree that he will end up in Rugby, either here or in Europe. I imagine that he may end up at Bondi Junction if he stays in league. but as others have said, he would be an absolute superstar if he was playing for 70% of NRL clubs other than us right now...