Eels declare Hayne their No.1 and only

Parramatta players have unashamedly declared Jarryd Hayne to be their saviour as
they attempt another last-minute dash at the NRL finals.
Athletes often talk up the merits of the team instead of over-praising an
individual, but the Eels have no problems admitting Hayne's freakish ability is what
can carry them into the top eight.
While stressing the 16 other players wearing blue and gold need to do their job,
Mannah said Hayne had the unique ability to almost single-handedly dictate a team's
fortunes.
"I think it takes a special player in the competition that can have an effect on a
team like that. He's one of those players, when he's firing, he does help the other
players through," said Mannah, confident Parramatta's chances are alive again after
Hayne's dazzling three-try display against North Queensland on Monday.
"He's unreal. That performance showed what he's capable of, he's the kind of
inspirational player that gets the team going and he was on the front foot last
night.
"He got everyone else sparkling a bit, the way he was playing so we'll take a lot of
confidence out of that."
Mannah went through State of Origin camp with Hayne, and was impressed with the star
fullback's maturity.
Last year's Dally M medallist had been under plenty of media pressure, including
speculation he was unhappy at the club, but shrugged away all that pressure to
return to his best for NSW and the Eels.
"He's a pretty cool head and I think he's matured a lot as a person in the last few
years so he knows how to handle himself," Mannah said.
"It was no surprise to see how much of a quality person he is and how well he
handled himself.
"I think it takes someone with good leadership skills to be able to choose what he did.
Parramatta lock Feleti Mateo says witnessing Hayne's comeback has inspired the Eels
to dig in for each other as they make another late run for the NRL finals.
Just like last year when the Eels came from the clouds to eventually qualify for the
grand final, Hayne is again the inspiration.
Mateo said the star fullback has matured into a true leader of the team.
"Yeah, I reckon he does (inspire), I know it lifts myself and makes me want to go
harder," he said.
"He does a lot of stuff through his actions, he's matured too so he's talking at the
same time, so he's just becoming a better and better player.
"I think the whole team, we're at the point where we have to start winning games and
he's just taken on a leadership role and has for a while now so we've just started
to talk across the board and it was good that we could take it out there on the
field."
While their 36-24 defeat of the Cowboys was only a step in the right direction,
Mateo said there were signs their famed attacking streak is back.
"We talked about it heaps during the week, supporting each other and just having a
dig and I think we did that," he said.