Parramatta are refusing to put a deadline on Jarryd Hayne’s contract negotiations despite having just over two weeks before they begin NRL pre-season training.
The Eels are expected to resume talks with the cross-code star in the coming days after he returned from his post-season holidays.
Hayne’s next move remains a mystery with the former NSW and Australian star still unsigned for 2019 and weighing up his future.
Having finished last this year, the Eels will waste no time and return to pre-season training on November 1.
Hayne was reported to be on a cut-price $500,000 deal this year after his tumultuous exit from the Gold Coast.
When asked if the blue and golds wanted clarity around their salary cap and Hayne’s future just 23 days out from the club’s return, CEO Bernie Gurr said: “We’re patient.
“Certain dominoes need to fall where they need to fall. We’re patient.”
Gurr reiterated the club’s desire to retain Hayne however said they had yet to speak to him after giving him time away to decide on his next step.
Gurr denied that the length of contract being offered was a sticking point.
It had been rumoured that Hayne was asking for a one-year deal while the club wanted him to sign for longer.
“That’s not true. We haven’t even advanced to that point (contract length),” Gurr said.
Like many of his teammates and fellow NRL players, Hayne has returned to the training track and gym on his own in the last week.
He took to Instagram over the last few days to show the work he was doing with renowned sprint coach Roger Fabri and Redfern-based strength and conditioning coach Cato Rutherford.
“The reality was this year he had a few injuries in the pre-season, he got injured in the season,” said Gurr who believed Hayne’s two-try effort in the round 14 win against North Queensland was a turning point.
“From then on you could make a case he was our best player. He was very good and off the field he demonstrated some leadership around the team.
“Once he was fit and healthy, is he the Jarryd Hayne of 2009? No. But he was still an effective Jarryd Hayne.”