Hayne injects swagger into NSW Origin camp

Only five players remain in NSW's State of Origin side from their 2014 series win.

Jarryd Hayne carries the ball to victory ending Game II

Only five players remain in NSW's State of Origin side from their 2014 series win over Queensland. (AAP)

Jarryd Hayne is back and so is NSW's swagger.

As the Blues aim for just their second State of Origin series win in 12 years, starting with next week's 2017 series opener in Brisbane, self-belief shapes as the key ingredient for both sides.

Unfortunately for coach Laurie Daley, he will go into the match with just five players who know what it's like to lift the Origin shield.

Only Hayne, Brett Morris, Josh Dugan, Aaron Woods and Boyd Cordner remain from the 2014 side who had broken Queensland's eight-year stranglehold on the trophy.

For a state that has become accustomed to losing over the past decade, confidence is a valued commodity and one Hayne brings to the side in spades.

"Haynsey's confident and that's why he's so good when he plays at Origin," winger Blake Ferguson said.

"I'm pretty pumped to play with him."

While question marks remain about Hayne's ability at centre, Daley had no hesitation throwing him back into rugby league's toughest arena.

Hayne was the deciding factor in NSW's 2014 series win, particularly his effort in the Suncorp Stadium win in game one when he had a hand in all of the Blues' points, setting up Brett Morris and scoring one himself.

He left the game six months later for a stint with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL and an ultimately failed attempt to qualify for the Olympics with the Fiji Sevens, but returns to the arena which made him famous.

"He's a good guy and he always performs in the Origin arena," Ferguson said.

"It's just about getting to know him because he's been away for a couple of years."


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Source: AAP


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Hayne injects swagger into NSW Origin camp | SBS News