The Gold Coast Bulletin

Hayne expects 2018 to be much better season

- CONNOR O’BRIEN

GOLD Coast marquee man Jarryd Hayne has declared he will have a bigger impact for the Titans in 2018 after another lacklustre performanc­e at the weekend.

Hayne showed glimpses of his magical best during the middle phase of the year but has slumped in parallel with the team’s six-match losing streak and the saga involving him and axed coach Neil Henry. Against the Bulldogs on Saturday, the biggest marks he made on the contest were two second-half blunders.

An awful kick out on the full sent Cbus Super Stadium into a chorus of jeers before he threw a wayward cutout pass to departing stalwart William Zillman that travelled metres forward.

“It’s always tough when you’re chasing points … a couple of times there I kind of had to make a play that wasn’t to be,” Hayne said.

When asked if he had delivered the impact he wanted to have on this season, the fullback softened the blow across the entire squad.

“It’s a team effort,” said Hayne, who despite another week in the spotlight was still willing to engage with fans and the media post-game.

“As a whole squad we probably haven’t achieved what we wanted to achieve at the start of the year.

“It doesn’t matter what kind of individual­s you have in your team, it’s all about everyone banding together and sticking to the process.”

He spoke of how the game has changed since his first NRL stint from a defensive standpoint whereby threats can come from anywhere on the park. But he assured fans he is expecting more of himself in his second full season back in the 13-man code.

“Oh definitely,” Hayne said.

 ??  ?? Fullback Jarryd Hayne.
Fullback Jarryd Hayne.

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