THE BLIND MOLE #3: Eels Consider Fielding One-Man Team

Another story so exclusive it may not have even happened yet...

The Blind Mole is hearing whispers of a secret revolutionary plan by the Parramatta Eels to rest the entire first grade squad, barring superstar Jarryd Hayne, from their round 23 match against the New Zealand Warriors.

In what would be an NRL first, it is believed members of the Eels' hierarchy see victory over the struggling Warriors as a mere formality and that Hayne, in his current form, could probably win the match on his own. This would give all other players a deserved rest after four consecutive victories and leave them fresh for the ongoing charge towards the finals and beyond.

Whilst one Parramatta official has privately expressed concerns over the team's ability to dominate the ruck without a forward pack, others believe that having only one player on the field would ensure less penalties and handling errors - two factors that can often cruel a side's chances.

And what a player that one player is. The very idea of Hayne hitting it up and getting a quick play-the-ball for himself to pirouette and pick up at dummy-half before passing and catching again out wide will have the Warriors scrambling for a strategy to counteract with.

It is thought that the Eels are still weighing up the benefits of also selecting Nathan Hindmarsh on the bench to ease the defensive pressure on Hayne towards the end of each half and to provide some cover for injury. It may be decided, however, that since Hayne can spend the entire match defending from either marker or fullback, he won't become exhausted getting back on side and can in fact last the full eighty minutes.

Could the Newcastle Knights consider using a similar tactic with inspirational captain and fullback Kurt Gidley? It seems unlikely, due to the fact that Hayne is simply a much better player.