Jarryd Hayne‘s season and State of Origin hopes kickstarted after a call from NSW coach Laurie Daley
WHAT’S THE BUZZ I: A private phone call is the first sign that NSW coach Laurie Daley is serious about wanting Jarryd Hayne back in a Blues jersey.
Phil Rothfield
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A PRIVATE phone call is the first sign that NSW State of Origin coach Laurie Daley is deadly serious about wanting his old superstar Jarryd Hayne back in a Blues jersey.
Daley phoned the Gold Coast Titans fullback last week to check on his comeback progress at the Titans and his ambitions for playing representative football.
“I just told him I need him to get back, play well and be in the reckoning,” Daley said.
“He sounded pumped about playing Origin but at the same time he was just as keen to get some fitness and play good footy for the Titans.
“I said I wanted him to give us a reason to pick him.”
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Hayne was an integral part of the NSW team that last won the series, in 2014.
“That series, Jarryd was the difference between the two sides,” Daley said. “But I can’t just pick him on reputation; we just need to see fitness and form to back it up.
“I saw his game against the Sharks and he was just class. He’s a big-time player.
“If Hayne does enough to make the Blues team, it would have to be in the centres or on the wing where NSW are already well served.’’
With James Tedesco a certainty at fullback, the Roosters’ Blake Ferguson and Manly’s Tom Trbojevic are frontrunners to play on the wing.
Jack Bird is likely to get one centre spot, with Hayne and Joey Leilua fighting for the other side as James Roberts looks set to miss out with injury.