JARRYD Hayne was the only one who knew it was coming.

Later, he would say it seemed obvious. The "best option''.

What else would a fella do when taking a penalty tap 30 metres out, 10 metres in, only seconds from the break?

"We could've gone for the try like a couple of boys were expecting,'' Hayne shrugged when asked about that field goal.

"But as soon as a we got the penalty ... yeah, I knew.''

While he may be harder to unravel than knotted fishing line, there is no doubting Jarryd Lee Hayne is well on his way to reviving the form that once made him a Dally M medallist.

In a performance that would've had NSW coach Laurie Daley doing cartwheels were he still capable, the Eels skipper scored one try, saved two and so spectacularly kicked one point on the stroke of halftime that would eventually separate the teams.

"Did I know it was coming? No, I didn't,'' Stuart conceded afterwards of said highlight reel fodder.

"But that field goal, only the great ones can do that.

"I know Laurie and Bozo (NSW selector Bob Fulton) are over the moon with the way Jarryd's playing. And there is still another level to him yet. He's not to where he can get to just yet, but what I've seen in the last two weeks, he will.''

And still you wanna question if this bloke is ready to wear the Blues No.1 jersey?

While Brisbane lost playmaker Scott Prince (hamstring) after just 12 minutes, it was the superstar Eels No.1 who proved the undisputed difference - both on and off the scoreboard - in front of 11,000 fans at Parramatta Stadium.

With Brett Stewart injured, Anthony Minichiello ageing and Josh Dugan having just climbed down from that rooftop, Hayne has been largely classed as Last Man Standing for the Blues No.1.

Yeah, right.

Twice last night the Eels superstar forced repeat sets when attacking and, in defence, saved two certain tries the first of which was via the type of grassing, fingertips catch normally reserved for gum chewing types in Baggy Green caps.

Elsewhere he scored a try, diffused bombs, even bled from the nose after copping a high shot that saw Broncos forward Josh McGuire placed on report.

"The best thing Jarryd's doing at the moment, a lot of people aren't seeing it,'' Stuart continued afterwards.

"Little things that people don't see but are the most important to me.''

Truly, here was a knockout effort to beat even the late shot from Mitchell Allgood that not only dropped Broncos half Peter Wallace, but saw the Eels prop cop a nice little shot from McGuire in return - the result being 10 minutes in the bin for both.

Asked if he were ready to play fullback for NSW, Hayne said: "I've just been focusing on Parra (because) I know that whatever happens, it will be the reward for how I play here.

"And obviously the better this team goes, the better they make me look. So I just need to worry about that and the rewards will come. It would be a huge honour.''

Despite entering this game with the type of form that saw John Singleton hastily withdraw his $100,000 bet on More Joyous, it was the Eels who played from in front thanks to, who else, but Hayne.

Running onto a beautiful ball from five-eighth Luke Kelly, Hayne slipped between two defenders and, despite being rolled onto his back, still managed to ground the Steeden for opening points.

Two minutes later, the home side was at it again when centre Jacob Loko, he of the neck tattoos and huge promise, chipped over the defence before passing inside to Kelly who this time scored himself.

Yet just when it started to look like coach Ricky Stuart might enjoy his first decent night's sleep of the year, Broncos winger Jordan Kahu proved that while lightning may never strike the same place twice, he certainly can.

It brought the Broncos within two ... and then came that kick.

PARRAMATTA 19 (J Hayne L Kelly J Paulo tries C Sandow 3 goals J Hayne field goal) bt BRISBANE 18 (J Kahu 2 J Hodges B Hunt tries P Wallace goal) at Parramatta Stadium. Referee: Gavin Reynolds, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 11,005.

Originally published as Hayne plane hits new heights