Why Jarryd Hayne’s decision to join the Titans made footballing sense

FORGET the talk of lifetime deals and loyalty — from a footballing standpoint, Jarryd Hayne made the right choice in moving to the Gold Coast.

DO NOT ARCHIVE ... Rugby league — player Jarryd Hayne of the Eels celebrates after scoring during the fourth NRL qualifying final match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Parramatta Eels at WIN Jubilee Stadium on 13 Sep. 2009 in Sydney, Australia.

NOW that Jarryd Hayne has come full circle after chasing sporting dreams all over the world, the way we remember his NRL career has changed.

Hayne’s talent and pedigree was and is undeniable. He might be the most singularly gifted player of his generation and there was nothing he couldn’t do on the field when he had it going.

But he also only made the finals three times. After his incredible run in 2009, where he dragged a battling Eels team all the way to the grand final, he did not play finals football again.

The reasons for this drought are numerous. In 2010 and 2011 Hayne had a similar roster to 2009 but couldn’t replicate his form from that legendary season — which is fair enough, given that 2009 might be the best he has ever or will ever play.

In 2012 and 2013 he was undone by injury, playing just 27 matches across two seasons while in 2014, his second Dally M year, the Eels had a finals berth at their mercy only to drop their final two matches of the season and finish ninth.

Hayne only played in three finals series for the Eels.

Hayne is not blameless for this drought — he could fade in and out of games and in and out of seasons — but at 28 and with a lot of miles under his belt he needed to put himself into the best position to win a title and that is what choosing the Gold Coast over Parramatta makes sense.

The constant turmoil off the field notwithstanding, the Eels are in a deeply uncertain situation in terms of their spine for next season. Corey Norman is set to re-sign, and is surely licking his lips at the prospect of an even bigger deal but while Norman has proven himself to be a top playmaker the rest of the Eels spine is deeply uncertain.

TALLIS: Hayne worth $20 million a year

STATS: Why Hayne makes the Titans a title threat

BIG NEWS: Why Hayne chose the Gold Coast

For starters, who plays halfback? With Kieran Foran out the door the Eels would be forced to look to the likes of Jeff Robson (if he decided to go around again), Mitch Cornish or try to snag another half in free agency.

The Eels have the same issue at hooker. In choosing to punt Nathan Peats to get themselves under the salary cap this season, the Eels went from the probably next Blues hooker to Isaac De Gois, a solid but unspectacular role player, and Kaysa Pritchard, a talented and wholehearted footballer who can’t stay healthy. Again, a free agent move seemed likely.

Hayne has not played in a finals match since 2009.

Parramatta aren’t without their strengths — Michael Jennings and Semi Radrardra (if he’s still there) are still dangerous, the forward pack is hardy and plays well above their weight and Brad Arthur has turned them into a team with great mental strength that never packs it in but the situation feels a little too similar to Hayne’s first NRL career.

Once again, he would be close to the be all and end all. If the team was great, it would be because of Hayne. If the team was bad, it would be because of Hayne. The club’s fortunes, especially given their hellish 2016, would have been tied to the returning Hayne, the golden boy who everyone would have expected (if not demanded) to make the Eels a premiership force immediately.

Compare that to the Titans. They’re already a finals calibre team and as their 18-all draw with Cronulla showed, they aren’t far away from title contention. In Ashley Taylor they have the probably rookie of the year and a franchise player. Kane Elgey is waiting in the wings. Their forward pack is perennially underrated with Ryan James and Greg Bird forming a fearsome middle duo and Zeb Taia and the rejuvenated Chris McQueen both enjoying terrific first seasons with the club. Peats was an inspired mid-season purchases, as was Konrad Hurrell.

Hayne makes the Titans a premiership threat.

The Titans won’t need a 2009, lights out, Oh My God Jarryd Hayne Is Lighting The NRL On Fire type season to contend for a title, they’ll just need Hayne to be a single weapon in a larger arsenal. Even if he can’t be the Jarryd Hayne we remember, it won’t cripple them.

For the Titans, Hayne is the final piece in a patient rebuild that’s been going one ever since Daly Cherry-Evans backflip last season. He’ll be an important player and a dominant one, but he won’t be the start and finish of all their success. At Parramatta, he would have had the weight of the world on his shoulder every minute of every game.

He doesn’t have the time to wait around for Parramatta to put together a premiership calibre roster. Now that he’s on the Gold Coast, the Titans have one right now.

Forget about the lifetime deal, the cash on offer and all the rest. Hayne joining the Titans instead of the Eels just makes footballing sense.