FULL BACKING
League great says Titans made right call to hand Jarryd Hayne No.1 jumper and urged the star to ‘get involved’ for key clash
FORMER Australian rugby league fullback Gary Belcher says Jarryd Hayne will have more opportunities to impact the game for the Gold Coast Titans in the No.1 jumper.
Hayne will run out in his preferred fullback role against the Warriors this weekend after a stint in the centres.
FORMER Kangaroos fullback Gary Belcher says Jarryd Hayne’s return to the No.1 jumper puts the onus on the Titans star to get involved and be among the Gold Coast’s best players every week in the club’s finals push.
Hayne has played in the centres since returning from an ankle injury but was named at fullback by coach Neil Henry for Saturday’s key clash against New Zealand at Cbus Super Stadium.
Henry said playing Hayne at centre had been the best fit for the Titans covering injuries and allowing him to get run back into his legs.
But he now needed a way to have Hayne with his hands regularly on the ball.
It’s a move Belcher also believes will reap dividends.
“Putting him back there says ‘we expect you to be one of our best players every week’,” Belcher said.
“The thing about Jarryd is he’s fit now. He played a couple of games, got injured, came back and is probably not the fittest player running around.
“But once he’s match fit – and he’s match-fit now – (fullback) will be great for him. You just want the ball in his hands.
“You want him more involved and in some games, you can’t get involved from out in the centres.”
Hayne revealed last week he sought assurances he would be playing at fullback before he triggered a contract option to stay at Gold Coast.
But Henry said his switch was only about what was best for the team – as was his initial move to the centres.
“He knew it was the best fit and also an opportunity for him to get a few more minutes into his legs at the NRL standard before we put him back there,” Henry said.
“So that was a plan anyway. But it was also about putting our strongest 17 out and that was with having Tyrone (Roberts) at the back.”
Henry admitted it had been a difficult call to push Roberts back to the bench given his form this season.
“It was (tough) and trying to accommodate him (going forward),” said Henry, who is also carrying utility Karl Lawton on the bench, with Nathan Peats expected to be fit to play the Warriors.
“Tyrone is (an option) around that backline, your halves or fullback or he’s a hooker, he’s not suited to any other role. But we’ll have to make a decision around our team’s make-up.”
Hayne is set to stay at fullback for the remainder of the season, including on return from Origin, despite the Titans leaving him at centre against the Cowboys last start.