Queensland State of Origin legend and Gold Coast Titans ambassador Gordon Tallis has declared Jarryd Hayne a once in a lifetime player whose presence on the Gold Coast will provide enormous benefits on and off the field.
Speaking with Gold Coast hit radio station 90.9 Sea FM, Tallis said the former NSW, Kangaroos and international player of the year would complement a young squad which continues to grow in confidence each week.
“Jarryd Hayne is the difference, so what happens is Konnie Hurrell is slowly getting his match fitness because he didn’t play too many games at the Warriors, but what a cult hero he is going to be if he keeps on playing and wanting to improve and Ash Taylor but I think it’s the biggest signing since Wally Lewis on the Gold Coast and Wally Lewis at the Seagulls was absolutely big and I remember being a Broncos fan because of Wally.”
The former Brisbane Broncos premiership player said Hayne’s magnetism would draw new and old fans to CBUS stadium, predicting a bumper crowd for Sundays crucial encounter against the Warriors.
“I can’t wait to see him run out, that’s how good he is, and I have had a heap of people ring me this morning, they are Parramatta supporters and they have told me they are going to go down to the Gold Coast now to watch him.
“There’s people whose number one side is Parramatta, but their second side is going to be the Titans simply because of Jarryd Hayne.”
Still excited by the team’s performance against premiership favourites Cronulla on Monday night, Tallis confidently predicted that Gold Coast fans can expect even more from their team following the inclusion of Hayne.
“It’s massive for the Gold Coast and the way they played the other night, I am still getting over that, it was brilliant.
“I think Jarryd Hayne is going to have that over this young group of guys, if they know they have got Jarryd Hayne in the team, just at training, just around the joint, I’m sure it’s going to breed confidence.”
“The Gold Coast community is finally getting behind this team because they are having a crack, they have got a great coach and heap of really good young kids that are out there trying their best.”
The Gold Coast Titans host the New Zealand Warriors at Cbus Super Stadium this Sunday night with ticket provider Ticketek today experiencing a huge uplift in sale following the news that Hayne would be available to play his first NRL match since quitting to pursue his NFL dream in 2014.
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