The State of Origin buzz created by Jarryd Hayne has Newcastle coach Nathan Brown on high alert ahead of Saturday's NRL clash with the Titans.
Hayne is just one game back from a lengthy ankle injury but is already being talked up for a NSW return ahead of next month's series-opener in Brisbane.
He made a triumphant comeback last round, earning man-of-the-match honours after inspiring the battling Gold Coast's upset 16-12 win over defending premiers Cronulla and prompting NSW coach Laurie Daley to claim Hayne would be "pretty hard to leave out" if his form continued.
It all sounds alarm bells for Brown's last-placed Knights, who will limp into the Gold Coast on a six-game losing streak.
"With State of Origin coming up I would expect Jarryd Hayne's mind to be very much on the job," Brown said.
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"He's a very, very gifted player.
"He's been one of the best Origin players in the last 15 years for NSW."
As good as he is, Hayne still surprised Brown with his immediate success against the Sharks after six weeks on the sidelines nursing his ankle.
Hayne set up a try, ran 109m and didn't miss a tackle in a classy 80-minute return and Brown expects more of the same on Saturday.
"With the injury he has had I wouldn't have thought he will be in peak fitness but he will be hungry," Brown said.
"It would be nice if he just went out there to pop around but he will be out to impress with Origin coming up."
NSW have not won a series since Hayne last featured for the Blues in 2014 before his NFL adventure.
He may be wary of Hayne but Brown believed the Titans were far from a one-man team with the majority of their stars now emerging from a shrinking injury list.
Co-captain Kevin Proctor (hamstring) and damaging centre Konrad Hurrell (knee) also made triumphant returns for the second-last Titans against the Sharks.
"They've got some of their good experienced players back now," Brown said.
"They are certainly a team that would be confident about doing well in this competition."
