Dyldam Parramatta Eels fullback Jarryd Hayne has returned to the training paddock for a full session on Saturday with the NSW blues as they prepare for Game 2 of the Holden State of Origin series.
Hayne had been on light duties with the Blues squad in Coffs Harbour with a cork sustained in the Eels’ Round 13 win over the Cowboys, but second-rower Luke Lewis said the Blues number one would be ready for Origin II.
“He was flying today,” Lewis said.
“We’ve got another session tomorrow and I think we’ll see the best of him tomorrow.”
And while Lewis outed Hayne as a joker, five-eighth Josh Reynolds praised Eels centre Will Hopoate for the calm and focus he brings to the New South Wales camp.
“He’s pretty laid back; he’s a bit of a joker,” Lewis said of Hayne.
“He loves to do his trick shots, and he’s very skilful. You watch him on the field but when he’s at training you don’t realise what he can do.”
“Everyone knows how cool and calm Hoppa is,” Reynolds added.
“I think I put up about a hundred bombs for him today and he caught a hundred. The combination [of Hopoate and Dugan] has been working really well.”
On Sunday, the Blues return to Sydney for their final preparations before Wednesday night’s Origin II.
