Flying fullback commits to club as its leader for another two years.
The Parramatta Eels have received a massive early season boost with news they have re-signed fullback and captain Jarryd Hayne for a further two years.
While no talk has centered around Hayne seeking to exercise his rights as a free-agent at the end of 2013, the news is comforting for new Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart that he will have one of his key weapons still at the club.
The new deal increases the chance Hayne will become a one-club player after signing with the Eels in 2006, racking up 143 games in the blue and gold in that time.
“Happy to announce I’ve resigned with @TheParraEels looking forward to the future. To all you Eels members, thank you for all your support,” Hayne wrote on his Twitter account soon after the announcement.
Underlying his new-found senior player status in the club, Hayne was elevated to the role of captain for the 2013 season.
However, his new on-field leadership role has taken him some to get used to, as he clashed with referees in the Eels’ last-start loss to the Wests Tigers.
Former Parramatta great Nathan Hindmarsh said Hayne must learn to learn from other experienced players around him.
“There are a lot of other experienced guys in the side that are probably sitting under Jarryd’s criticism when a lot of them, I think, could also help him out a fair bit as well,” Hindmarsh said.
“It is a bit unfair but hopefully we can see the Jarryd Hayne of 2009 again. It would be nice. It would be very nice.
“I spoke to a lot of people and I was willing to get help and ask for help from my peers and other people around. And I think Jarryd could benefit from that.
“At the end of the day, I wasn’t a big talker. I had lots of other people to do that for me who were quite comfortable doing that and I just tried to lead from example. And that’s how I tried to be as good a captain as I could.”
The Eels will be looking to get back into the winner’s column this weekend when they tackle the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
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