Belcher blasts ‘unfit’ Jarryd
QUEENSLAND Origin legend Gary Belcher has turned up the heat on Jarryd Hayne, warning the besieged Titans superstar there is nowhere to hide following the sacking of coach Neil Henry.
One of the code’s greatest No.1s, Belcher has questioned whether Hayne has the work ethic and fitness base to succeed in the No.1 jumper in the post-Henry era next season.
Hayne struggled to replicate his Dally M-winning magic at the Titans and his strained relationship with Henry was viewed as a critical factor in his inconsistent form on the holiday strip.
But with the Titans board having pulled the trigger on Henry, there is now no excuses for Hayne as the club’s highest-paid player comes under mounting pressure to live up to his $1.2 million deal next year.
Belcher is not convinced the removal of Henry will trigger a form revival from the NSW Origin centre.
“I know Hayne can play better if he gave everything he had to being a fitter player and a better part of that team. But I’m not sure he wants to do that,” said Belcher, a veteran of 15 Tests and 16 Origin matches.
“I don’t think he realises the negative effect he can have on guys around him by not training hard and not buying into the team culture.
“Going to the NFL didn’t help him in an NRL sense. There is no endurance in American Football.
“You can’t be a poor trainer in the NRL these days. He has been injured a few times this year but he’s simply not fit enough to play at fullback, that’s why Henry was putting him in the centres.
“The fullback has to do so much work these days.”
Legendary Broncos centre Steve Renouf is adamant Hayne, who turns 30 next February, is not a spent force in the NRL.
But he challenged the controversial figure to take responsibility by hauling the Titans out of their latest mess.