28 Sep 2009

Melbourne pleased Eels star cleared to play in NRL final

5:48 pm on 28 September 2009

Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith says he's happy that Parramatta star Jarryd Hayne has been cleared to play in Sunday's National Rugby league grand final because he doesn't want any question marks over the result.

Hayne and Eels hooker Matthew Keating were both charged with grade-one dangerous contact charges following incidents in Friday night's preliminary final win over the Bulldogs, but the penalty isn't severe enough to see them suspended from the final.

Smith, who himself missed last year's grand final loss to Manly through suspension, says he wants to take on the Eels best side because if they win they know they were playing the full-strength Parramatta team.