Hayne keen to continue dual centre/fullback role

Jarryd Hayne is expected to continue shifting between centre and fullback for the Parramatta Eels after he and Bevan French used the ploy during Sunday’s 24-14 loss to Penrith Panthers.

While Hayne spent most of the match at right centre, he regularly switched to fullback when the Eels started a set of possession after a penalty or handover, with French moving to right wing and Josh Hoffman shuffling inside to centre.

Hayne and French also swapped positions at the end of defensive sets so that Hayne could return the ball from a kick.

"We had a few plays that if we see something, or that we worked on during the week, I will swap with Bev," Hayne said.

Melbourne Storm tried a similar ploy when Greg Inglis was playing left centre for the club, which involved him dropping to fullback in defence, Billy Slater moving to the wing and Michael Crocker defending in the centre role.

The move enabled the Storm to get Inglis more involved and use his size from kick returns.

Asked how important it was for him to get those touches at fullback, Hayne said: "It is all about the team and whatever I can do to help, that is what I want to do."

Hayne’s first match in the blue-and-gold jersey since 2014 was also his 200th NRL appearance but he was in no mood to celebrate after the loss.

"I think everyone is going to go back disappointed with how we performed," Hayne said. "We worked so hard in the pre-season on our starts in the first half and second half.