Hayne to test knee
Star fullback needs to handle change of direction for Round 1 start
MONDAY’S training session could largely determine Gold Coast marquee Jarryd Hayne’s chances of playing Round 1 in seven days.
Hayne has not hit the training paddock for three weeks now since damaging knee cartilage during the Auckland Nines and remains no certainty to be in the Titans’ 17 against the Roosters at Cbus Super Stadium.
“Well I haven’t run yet. I haven’t run in three weeks so I’ll start on Monday and go from there,” he said.
“The physio seems to be pretty confident that I will be fine and it feels great.
“I didn’t realise how bad it was until I had that time off and that recovery to really get it right.”
Coach Neil Henry added: “To say he is 100 per cent certain to play is not right but we expect him to play”.
Hayne said the key to his availability will be checking on Monday how his knee handles sudden changes of direction.
“It’s nothing to do with contact, it’s more going sideways and then if my knee can hold up to the force … just have to wait and see how the body responds,” he said.
The Titans have a contingency plan in place in case their superstar doesn’t pass fitness tests, with stalwart William Zillman waiting in the wings.
The 30-year-old is a known reliable option and has started 113 of his 165 NRL games at fullback.
“William Zillman trained there today so that might be a hint,” Henry said of the fullback spot.
“We have got a couple of guys who can go there, Tyler Cornish as a bolter.
“But you’d have to say Zilly would have his hand up to go back there.”
Hayne said the club’s series of injuries suffered during pre-season had been a setback but believes they are capable of a big season.
“Three hookers went down in one game so that is something I have never seen before but we’ll bounce back,” he said.
“We have got a lot of potential, that’s where we’re at at the moment.
“I really like our forward pack, our outside backs haven’t had much time together with Sarg (Dan Sarginson), Koni (Konrad Hurrell) being injured and obviously myself.
“It will be good to see Kane (Elgey) and Ash (Taylor) go together. They haven’t played together so that will be exciting. If we can click this year the sky is the limit.”
Hayne added that he is loving fatherhood, with his daughter Beliviah now 10 weeks old.
“Bub is doing really well, she’s really healthy which I have been extremely blessed with,” he said.
“You’re amazed every day about the way a child grows. She has no idea what is going on so she is pretty cute.”