If one of the greatest players to ever cross the white stripe on the footy field just became one of the biggest free agents in Australian sporting history, you would be mad to turn him away and say ‘thanks, but no thanks.’

Especially to if he is a club legend and a former poster boy for your club. You would be stupid to say no, if Jarryd Hayne walked into club HQ and said ‘I want to play for you, where do I sign?’

But that’s exactly what the Parramatta Eels should do.

Jarryd Hayne is the x-factor everyone wants on their team. He is the type of player in the elite class of athletes, like Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis, that run around the paddock every week in the National Rugby League.

There is no doubt Hayne will get the fans streaming through the gates, sell endless amounts of merchandise and could almost singlehandedly win your club a game of footy. In fact, Hayne has already done that previously in the NRL.

It’s the exact reason why the Eels should not flirt with the temptation to re-sign the former San Francisco 49ers running back.  

For so long, much of the Eels’ future relied on Hayne. He ate so much of the cap space, that it had a massive bearing on whom the club would try to retain or poach. However, time and time again the Eels opted for the individual talent rather than building a team environment (The Eels made the finals three times in eight years, collecting two wooden spoons whilst Hayne was signed for the club between 2006-2014).  

The Eels right now don’t need individuals like Hayne. Let’s not forget, it was certain individuals who ruined the club that will forever tarnish the name that has four times before been crowned NRL premiers.

The Eels have a chance that not many clubs in world sport will get.

They get to almost totally rebuild, redesign and reclaim a once great club and the Parramatta faithful deserve to have their footy side back, but, not based around individuals.

For too long this has failed the club both on and off the field and it’s time to change.   

Forget Hayne and build a TEAM for the future.