Eels co-captain Tim Mannah has applauded off-contract centre Jarryd Hayne for helping turn around the the club's culture and now wants to see him re-commit to Parramatta.
Mannah says the former San Francisco 49ers' impact off the field has been profound, despite the team struggling at the bottom of the ladder this season.
Hayne is set to come out of contract at the end of the season, and Mannah would love to see him extend his stay with the Eels.
“We are a better team with Jarryd in there, so I’d love to see him stay,” Mannah told The Daily Telegraph.
“I’ve noticed a real shift in the last couple of weeks and I think Jarryd has been a real catalyst for that.
“He has been really focused and he has lifted everyone around him. It’s a decision Jarryd has to make, as well as the club.
“For me personally, I’ve always been a big supporter of having him in the team. I think he is the kind of player that can be really influential to the players around him.”
Hayne has struggled through injuries this season, and Mannah has hit back at critics, saying his best is yet to come.
“Everyone has been pretty tough on him, but he hasn’t really had a chance to string too many games in a row,” he said.
“But now he is doing that, everyone is seeing the class come out again and the player and leader he is.
“I think he is a vital member of our team and I’m a big fan of having him in the squad.”
Meanwhile, Mannah's deal with Parramatta expires at the end of the 2019 season, and despite their recent poor performances, the 30-year old is enjoying his twilight years at the club.
“I definitely want to make the most of the time at the club,” he said.
“I’ve had a different role coming off the bench and I’ve just been enjoying my footy.
“It sounds funny because we are not winning, but from a personal point of view I’ve been happy.
“I just want to keep improving and the buzz to pull on the jersey each week is there.
“If we can finish these last eight games well then it will say a lot about our group.
“We are all pretty fresh, physically and mentally, and we want to make sure we finish the back end of the season on a strong note.”