Dislocation puts Hayne back in place

THE horrific knee injury to Parramatta fullback Luke Burt has opened the door for New South Wales wing Jarryd Hayne to take the position earmarked for him since his days in the club's lower grades.

A dislocated kneecap will sideline Burt for at least eight weeks, with Hayne preferred as his replacement for Sunday's game against South Sydney at Parramatta Stadium despite being one of the most damaging wings in the game.

"Haynsey has gone back to fullback and everyone knows what a good player he is," Burt said. "I don't think there'll be many who think we can't stay in the top four."

Burt was still coming to terms with an injury that made even the most hardened player wince as he writhed in agony on Monday night during the Eels' 34-10 loss to Newcastle.

"I had one quick look and didn't want to keep looking," Burt said. "My kneecap was around my knee and it was pretty ugly. It would be right up there (for pain).

"There was a lot of shock, too, when I saw how bad it was."

Knights and NSW captain Danny Buderus, a veteran of 202 games, could be seen grimacing as he walked away from the scene.

Buderus ended up on the bottom of the pile and was confronted by Burt's leg laying across his chest. The Knights skipper, who joined teammate Daniel Abraham in helping Burt before the medical staff arrived, visited the Eels' dressing-room after the game to check on the fullback's condition.

"That's something you never want to see a player go through," Buderus said. "I've never been in that situation before. You see a fair bit on the footy field and I don't know how it happened. His whole leg was across my body and when I looked down his kneecap was to the side of his knee." Hayne was also in the vicinity and felt even worse.

"I got tackled near him and I saw his kneecap on the side of his knee," Hayne said. "I got up thinking, 'That can't be right' and then had another look. I just spun out. I thought I was going to faint."

Burt had his kneecap put back into place by Eels doctor Michael Johnson in the dressing-room before being transported to Baulkham Hills Private Hospital for scans.

"I was fearing the whole season was gone and most of the pre-season. Even when I came into the sheds the doc prepared me for the worst and said I could need a reconstruction," Burt said. "I got the good news yesterday and hopefully I will be back later in the season. I won't come back until it is fully right and I won't rush it.

"I'll be doing my best to get back there ASAP. I don't expect it to affect my kicking or running."
Burt, 26, has been in outstanding form this season, scoring nine tries and booting 59 goals for a total of 154 points. The next best is Bulldogs sharpshooter and last year's leading pointscorer Hazem El Masri, who has six tries and 51 goals for 126 points.

"I would have to probably say (I'm in career best form). There have been a couple of years there when I've done OK, but playing in different positions it is hard to say," Burt said. "Now I am playing fullback, I am enjoying my role and place in the team, knowing who to run off and what to do."