Broncos coach Wayne Bennett launches passionate defence of Titans star Jarryd Hayne

WAYNE Bennett has hit out at coverage of Jarryd Hayne’s off-field issues and critics of the superstar’s training, taking aim at the “intrusiveness” of modern sports media.

BRONCOS coach Wayne Bennett has urged critics to get off Jarryd Hayne’s back but former Origin star Justin Hodges delivered a stinging assessment of the besieged fullback.

Hayne has found a surprising ally in Bennett, who criticised media coverage of the Titan’s off-field issues.

Hayne is under pressure to fire against the Knights tomorrow after The Courier-Mail’s exclusive report that he was kicked out of the Titans’ leadership group after several discipline-related fines.

Former Broncos skipper Hodges joined a growing band of critics, suggesting Hayne was a passenger in the Titans’ season-opening 32-18 loss to the Roosters.

Jarryd Hayne’s attitude to training has been questioned. Picture: David Clark

But Bennett launched a passionate defence of Hayne, saying the two-time Dally M Medallist should be judged by his on-field displays, not his work ethic at training.

“Jarryd Hayne is one hell of a football player, that’s what he should be judged on,” Bennett said.

“I’ve trained some of the best trainers in the world and they can’t play. I’ve trained other guys who hated training and were great players.

“Jarryd needs to be judged on what he’s done on the field. That’s what he’s there for, not (what he does) behind closed doors, whether he trains good or bad.

“That’s up to him and his coach (Neil Henry) to work out. It shouldn’t be national headlines.

“He has a unique talent and the unique ones are always more difficult to train, (but) they bring something that I could never coach and that Neil Henry can’t coach and other players can’t deliver.’’

Wayne Bennett has launched a passionate defence of Jarryd Hayne. Picture: Annette Dew

Hodges differed from his former coach Bennett, urging Hayne to stop ranting on social media and start finding his Dally M-winning form at Parramatta.

“With the social media, he should be off it if he’s struggling,” Hodges said on Fox Sports’ Queenslanders Only show. “He’s the main player, he’s their superstar.

“He gets paid $1 million a season. For me, he drifts in and out of the game.

“It’s like Johnathan Thurston not delivering or Paul Gallen only making 10 hit-ups. Those great players can’t have moments in games where they aren’t there.’’

Hodges said Hayne had spent most of the Titans clash with the Roosters sitting on the wing.

“When he was at Parramatta before he chased his dream in the NFL, the first four or five tackles of every set, he was sniffing around the ruck. He would ignite the stadium.

Jarryd Hayne has found an unlikely ally in Wayne Bennett. Picture: David Clark

“He needs to find what worked for him at Parramatta and bring it to the Titans.’’

Bennett claimed the media had “gone to another level’’ in its criticism of Hayne.

“One of the issues is the intrusiveness of the media right now,’’ Bennett said. “Every club has issues with different players who don’t train great.

“What Jarryd Hayne does on the football field is the most important thing. What he does off the field with regards to his training, that’s for the club to handle and it should be left there.”

Originally published as Broncos coach Wayne Bennett launches passionate defence of Titans star Jarryd Hayne