Hayne keen to stay with Eels

IN a boost before tonight's match against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium, Parramatta fullback Jarryd Hayne signalled his intention to re-sign with the Eels long-term.

Hayne is under contract with Parramatta until the end of next season but the club has opened negotiations to ward off the anticipated flood of offers from rival clubs.

Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald has spoken with Hayne's manager Wayne Beavis about a new deal.

"We haven't made a firm offer just yet but we're talking," Fitzgerald said.

But it appears Hayne - who commands about $300,000 a season - is more than happy to remain an Eel.

In just over a year Hayne has gone from Premier League player to one of the NRL's hottest stars.

He scored two stunning tries for NSW in this year's State of Origin series after being chosen in Australia's Tri-Nations squad last year.

When asked whether he wanted to stay at Parramatta, Hayne said: "For sure, of course. This was the club where I made my debut.

"That will play a factor in things," he said. "You never what will happen but this being the club where I started my career will certainly come into consideration."

Brisbane's preparation was thrown in chaos during the week when their Test fullback Karmichael Hunt injured his hamstring at training. He will not play for the next six weeks.
Denan Kemp will be the new Brisbane fullback.

Already Brisbane have lost skipper Darren Lockyer for the season with a knee injury.

He joins Justin Hodges and Brent Tate on the sidelines through injury.

Parramatta have been solid this season without showing any sustained brilliance.

But coach Michael Hagan will send a big and strong backline and a hard-working forward pack. Second-rower Chad Robinson withdrew on Saturday with the flu, so Ian Hindmarsh will start with Weller Hauraki coming onto the bench.

"They have a few out but they still have a lot of dangerous players," Hayne said.

"We have to start well and hopefully we can get away with a win."

In his Brisbane newspaper column, Lockyer said his team must retain focus despite the club's growing injury toll.

"The game against the Eels is still about doing the same things that we have done well to win in the past five weeks, when we haven't gone out to play the teams off the park," Lockyer said.

"Let's play a patient game with the football. Let's be enthusiastic in defence.

"The boys would do well to try to go through teams rather than go around them.

"That's probably why Tonie Carroll is five-eighth - he can hit a hole from a pass and cause a bit of havoc."