A haul of nine tries in three games is not exactly the mark of a player with a focus on defence.
But Jarryd Hayne says he’s put an emphasis on his duties without ball since switching to the centres for Australia with great success at the Rugby League World Cup.
The Parramatta NRL star is renowned as one of the game’s most exciting attackers and he’s flourished since being switched to an unfamiliar role at right centre by coach Tim Sheens a fortnight ago.
After scoring two tries on the wing against Ireland, Hayne bagged a record-equalling four-try haul against the United States and backed it up with a hat-trick against Fiji in the semi-finals.
But while Hayne, a specialist fullback who has played mainly on the wing at representative level, has caused havoc with the ball he’s also been instrumental in helping Australia not concede a try in four straight matches.
“It’s definitely a focus. Not playing in the centres regularly, that’s probably been the biggest change for me – defence,” Hayne said.
“Reading-wise it’s definitely (one of the toughest positions in defence) because you’re like the last line and everyone makes their decisions based on the person on their inside.”
Hayne said defending next to halfback Cooper Cronk had made the adjustment much easier, rating the Melbourne Storm playmaker as the game’s best defensive half.
“He’s short and nuggety and can take a man one-on-one so I know I don’t need to worry about him,” Hayne said.
Hayne, the competition’s top try-scorer, will compete in his first World Cup final on Saturday after being overlooked by Ricky Stuart at the last tournament in 2008, when he instead represented Fiji.
The 25-year-old is most excited about the chance to play at Old Trafford, home to English Premier League club Manchester United.
“It’s going to be huge,” Hayne said.
“For me personally, it’s probably going to be the biggest ground I’ll play on.
“No disrespect to Wembley, but watching the likes of (Cristiano) Ronaldo, (Wayne) Rooney and (Robin) Van Persie for a number of years now, everyone knows Old Trafford because of Manchester United and to be able to grace that ground is something that’s going to be a career highlight.”