Hayne's strain could be our gain - Kearney
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday February 22, 2011
PARRAMATTA coach Stephen Kearney says Jarryd Hayne's enforced lay-off could prove to be a blessing in disguise for the Eels this season.Kearney, who became the NRL club's fifth coach in as many seasons last October, is under no illusions about the task in front of him, and how important Hayne is to the team's fortunes.The NSW and Australian star took the Eels almost single-handedly to the 2009 grand final, but they flopped miserably last year, finishing 12th, despite starting the season as favourites.A torn hamstring kept Hayne out of last year's Four Nations, won by Kearney's Kiwis.However, the setback handed the 23-year-old his first break from the game in almost two years, having been involved with both state and country.This was in addition to the speculation about his future, before he signed a new deal with the Eels, and the uncomfortable sternum injury that plagued him for the first half of last season."I think sometimes it has an impact on guys who play a lot of rep footy, that when they are forced to have time off due to an injury it is a blessing in disguise for them," Kearney said. "Whether that is the case for Jarryd, at the moment we will only really know in maybe three months. But when you have a player who is playing State of Origin, finals, then end-of-season internationals - that is a lot of footy, and a break can't do them any harm."Hayne enjoyed his first taste of action since the Eels' final game of last season in Saturday's trial game against Wests Tigers at Campbelltown. In addition to running in a superb try in the first half, he also embarked on one searing run from fullback that looked destined for four points until he was held up just short of the line by the Tigers."Jarryd did some good things on Saturday, he had some good touches that made us aware again of what he is capable of, and it is just a matter of monitoring how he is going," Kearney said."He has had a nasty injury, and we have to keep an eye on him, but so far the signs have been good."Meanwhile, Penrith coach Matt Elliott expects Lachlan Coote and Luke Lewis to return to action in Saturday's trial against Parramatta.Brilliant 20-year-old fullback Coote, who cut a swath through NRL defences during the first half of last season, went under the knife in the off-season to repair his troublesome groin."He had a disappointing end to last season with his injury and is desperate to play," Elliott told AAP. "We kept him back a bit last year because we didn't want to make the situation worse, but the surgery has been successful and he should be fine for Saturday."Lewis returned to full training this week after recovering from ankle ligament damage sustained in the Kangaroos' Four Nations defeat by New Zealand.
© 2011 Sydney Morning Herald