What makes Jarryd Hayne an NRL freak

HE is one of the most gifted players to ever grace a football field. We take a look at Jarryd Hayne's unique anatomy to see what makes him a rugby league freak.

Freak ... Jarryd Hayne.

DANIEL Anderson didn't need to see Jarryd Hayne beat seven Dragons defenders pointlessly to form an opinion about his magician in the No.1 jersey.

He'd already seen enough this season as Hayne sparked the Eels' premiership  revival.

So when asked yesterday whether Hayne was among the most natural players he had seen, Anderson said: "He's not 'among the' ... he is the most natural.

"He is a footballer who has athletic ability.

"Some athletes that play the game don't understand the nuances of the game.

"But Jarryd is aware of the ebbs and flows in a game. He is a natural footballer who makes good decisions constantly.

"Truly gifted footballers keep playing footy. They don't second guess themselves, doubt themselves and don't fear making errors.''

Why Hayne is such a freak. See our graphic below.

Hayne, 21, isn't the fastest, fittest or strongest player at the club. Nor the most dedicated trainer.

But no one in rugby league now doubts that Hayne is The Man - a player born with a natural gift to play the game.

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As Sunday's breathtaking performance showed, Hayne is a modern-day rugby league phenomenon. A player who can do anything on the football field.

But such is his athletic ability, many at the Eels believe he could have been a sprinter or a boxer.

Anderson describes him as a "special athlete who could do what ever he wanted to''.

He has skill, speed and incredible leg power.

Hayne was just a teenager when the Eels stumbled a week before the Grand Final against Melbourne in 2007.

Two years later, Hayne himself rates the class of 2009 as far superior and an even better chance to deliver Parramatta their first premiership in more than 20 years.

"No disrespect to the boys who played in 2007, but I think a lot of us players are much more mature this year,'' Hayne told The Daily Telegraphyesterday. "The boys who were coming through [in 2007] had the flair and skill, but there's a different belief this year.

"I was only 19 and didn't know what finals footy was about. We were more excited about being at the game rather than realising we were only one game away from being in a Grand Final.

"There's less pressure this year and whatever we do is a bonus.''

Eels winger Eric Grothe scored a length-of-the- field intercept try against the Dragons, but he was amazed by Hayne's solo effort late in the game. See video of that try here.

"It was good to score a try, but watching `Haynesy' score his try I could only shake my head,'' Grothe said.

"I couldn't believe how many people he beat. I think he must have spiders on him.''

Housemate Ben Smith, who spent Sunday night at home with Hayne watching 1980s flick La Bamba, said: "Jarryd's a confident person on and off field and he plays the way he trains - he's a freak.''

Former Australian fullback Garry Jack described Hayne's freakish try against St George Illawarra as "unbelievable''.

"He just has great anticipation and acceleration,'' Jack said.

In a further boost for the electric Eels ahead of Friday's clash with the Gold Coast, Krisnan Inu declared yesterday he had overcome a hamstring injury and would play.