JARRYD Hayne has reportedly been battling through a tough NRL pre-season in his first campaign back with his old club Parramatta - even losing to coach Brad Arthur, 43, on an obstacle run.

The Eels recently held a camp on the NSW Central Coast and were put through some gruelling exercises in the summer heat.

Fox Sports’ chief NRL reporter James Hooper revealed to NRL 360 how badly Hayne struggled with the training. Hayne finished last in a 5km run, lagging behind many of his teammates. In perspective, coach Arthur finished in the top 10 on the same run.

Hooper said Hayne still appeared to be wrestling with his body shape after his time playing in the NFL.

Round 20

“Jarryd has never been a tremendous pre-season trainer, we know that,” Hooper said. “When Ricky Stuart had him at the Parramatta Eels - and all his coaches will tell you - pre-season’s not where Jarryd does his best work.

“The Eels are up at Soldiers Beach on the Central Coast, last week I watched them do some sand dunes and a 5km hectic obstacle course. What I got out of that: Jarryd Hayne did finish in last position but what I got ... you can really see the strength work that he had to put in to his body physically in the NFL.

“He’s got a huge rump, massive. It’s not fat but it’s just big, it’s rotund. It’s a little bit Serena Williams-esque.

“The coach did beat him home, Brad Arthur. He was in the top 10 and his young son Matt, who I believe it only 13-14 years-old, he ran it as well - super sharp.”

Hayne only returned to training a couple of weeks ago after his post-World Cup break.

Brad Arthur’s son beats Jarryd Hayne in an earlier pre-season run. Picture: Foxsports Source: FOX SPORTS

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HOW DES COCKED-UP SIGNING TEDESCO FOR DOGS

It’s been revealed an extraordinary Des Hasler decision lost Canterbury James Tedesco’s signature and sent him to the Roosters.

Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib made the stunning admission in an in-depth interview with Fairfax Media.

It turns out Tedesco had verbally agreed to sign with Canterbury — as had Aaron Woods — on the condition the club also recruit Mitchell Moses.

They had even agreed to take a pay cut in order to fit Moses in the side.

All three then-Wests Tigers stars — along with halfback Luke Brooks — were off contract until midway through the 2017 season and were being pursued by a number of clubs.

And all three had allegedly agreed to sign with the Bulldogs, until then-coach Hasler intervened to scupper the Moses deal.

That decision put an end to Tedesco’s interest in the Bulldogs and pushed him into the arms of the Chooks, according to Dib.

“All three were ready to sign, mate. All three. But Des didn’t want Mitchell Moses because he said he wasn’t the style of player and couldn’t play the footy he wanted to play,” Dib said.

Des Hasler. Source: AAP

“Des said (Moses is) not good enough to play. All three were done. Then Des wasn’t convinced on Moses.

“I organised a personal meeting with Tedesco and Woods with Des Hasler. And they tried to convince Des Hasler that Mitchell was our man. Tedesco said, ‘I want to play for the Dogs but I need to know who the halves will be. If you sign Mitchell, I will sign tomorrow. I’m with you’.

“Des said no. I remember both those players were prepared to sacrifice part of their contacts to bring Mitchell over. But once again, it was Des’ call.”

In the interview Dib also takes aim at Hasler’s stubbornness and apparent inability to work properly with his players and staff.

Hasler was sacked as coach of the Bulldogs at the end of the season, just months after signing a new contract with the club.

He’s since launched legal action against Canterbury.

‘MENINGA CLONE’ CLOSING ON NRL DEAL

A 24-year-old Fijian talent could be closing in on an NRL deal after arriving in Australia to play in the Queensland Cup.

Pio Seci was the only player from the Fijian domestic competition to be selected in the nation’s World Cup squad.

He’s been likened to Australian legend Mal Meninga, standing at 195 centimetres tall and weighting 105 kilograms. He also plays at centre.

Seci has been picked up by the Ipswich Jets who have organised a visa for him to play in Australia this year.

Fiji coach Mick Potter told NRL.com Seci could become an NRL player if he can find the discipline needed to be a professional footballer.

“Talent is not Pio’s worry and he could play a couple of different positions if he put his mind to it, anything from front row to five-eighth, and he’s athletic enough to play centre,” Potter said.

“Pio has the potential to play NRL and just needs to change a couple of things with his diet.

“You need to be so bloody-minded to play in the NRL, but I have seen many young men change their diets to achieve what they want to achieve.”

Fijian players Salesi Faingaa, Pio Seci, and Tui Kamikamica on tour for the World Cup. Source: News Corp Australia

MATA’UTIA CONFIRMS 2018 POSITION

Young Newcastle leader Sione Mata’utia has confirmed he’s been training at centre during pre-season and plans to line up there for the season opener on March 9.

Mata’utia will move from the backrow to the centres in an effort to reduce his risk of concussion.

And he gave a sneaky insight into the possible Knights backline line-up when speaking to the club website.

“Myself and SKD (Shaun Kenny-Dowall) on the right side have been training really well, and Kenny (Ken Sio) also,” he said.

“Rossdog (Nathan Ross), Kenny, SKD and all the players in the backs can play a variety of positions which makes it a bit harder, because if they can’t make the wing, they can also make the centre or fullback so there’s definitely a lot of competition.

“It’s healthy for the team and it has made everyone go up a level, myself included.”

Young recruit Kalyn Ponga will start the year at fullback, but exactly who fills out the four remaining backline positions is yet to be confirmed.

RAIDERS CONSIDER OTTIO SCHOLARSHIP

To honour the memory of former player Kato Ottio, Canberra are considering starting up a scholarship program for Papua New Guinean players.

Ottio passed away in a PNG hospital earlier this month after collapsing at training due to severe heat stroke. He was due to link up with Super League outfit Widnes.

The Raiders have already set up a Go Fund Me where fans can donate to a memorial fund to help Ottio’s family, but the club a looking to do more.

“There’s a few ideas that were floated around, apart from just raising some money and helping the family out, maybe there’s a long-term legacy there where we look at a PNG player every year and offer some kind of scholarship,” Raiders CEO Don Furner told Fairfax Media.

“So there are other ways that we do it.

“We haven’t spoken to his family yet, but they were some thoughts that went around to make sure it’s not just a one-off thing, but there’s something lasting from this tragedy and remembering him.”

‘SLATER CAN PLAY ON IN 2019’

Melbourne’s football manager Frank Ponissi believes Billy Slater could play on in 2019, such are the fitness levels of the veteran fullback.

After almost two seasons out of the game due to a shoulder injury, Slater returned in triumphant fashion last year and played a key role in the Storm’s grand final win.

He re-signed with the club for a further year after the premiership win and went on to reclaim his Kangaroos jersey for the World Cup.

“Bill’s come back in fantastic condition this pre-season, he really has,” Ponissi told NRL.com.

“I think that decision (on Slater’s future) can only be answered by Bill. But having that year and a half out, in hindsight, it’s certainly got him physically in great nick. It has and will extend his career.

“Physically, he is 100 per cent capable of playing on beyond 2018. I couldn’t be surer of that, and he’ll be good enough obviously to play on in 2019.”