Hayne’s position
emma.greenwood@news.com.au COULD Jarryd Hayne’s move to five-eighth for the World Cup could be a pointer to his future with the Titans?
Hayne has made no secret of the fact he wants to play in the No.1 jersey and sees his best position as fullback.
But his shift into the halves with the Bati will allow him to get his hands on the ball regularly and help feed the team’s wealth of outside backs including Suliasi Vunivalu, Akuila Uate and Kevin Naiqama.
There’s no doubt Hayne can be spectacular from the back of the field but at 29, he cannot match the speed of the likes of Vunivalu and Fiji are best served with him in the thick of the action making decisions on the game direction.
Hayne played several games in the centres for the Titans this season – mostly through necessity after returning from injury without the run in his legs to be able to play 80 minutes at the back – with the shift a large reason for the friction between him and mentor Neil Henry that eventually led to the coach’s downfall.
The best fullbacks in the modern game – think Billy Slater, Darius Boyd – drift in and out of the halves and act as another five-eighth anyway. But his World Cup stint may start Hayne thinking about a permanent shift into the No.6 jersey at the Titans.
Hayne will be 30 by the time the next NRL season starts and with players like Tyronne Roberts-Davis and Dan Sarginson also on the Gold Coast’s books, there is scope for a move into a position neither Tyrone Roberts nor Kane Elgey has been able to make their own.
Hayne certainly has the skill set to make the switch – whether he has the temperament and whether it is in the best long-term interests of the team is another question.
Ashley Taylor has worked hard over the past year to stamp his authority on the team and learnt that he needs to be the commanding voice on the field.
Hampering his development is not going to be good for the team.
But the pair working in concert could be the ingredient the Titans need to be a genuine finals contender.
It’s unlikely to happen but it’s certainly food for thought as the Titans look to make the most of their marquee man.