It is understood the kind of money Hayne could command now would be closer to $300,000 a season, especially with clubs keen to splurge most of their cash on key positions like the halves, hookers and fullbacks.
"We're only seven rounds in, I've played two-and-a-half games, we're not even mid-year, so there's plenty of footy left,'' Hayne said.
"I'm not thinking about it. My thoughts are about getting back on the field and we'll see how it all pans out.''
When asked if he was worried rival clubs might be turned away by his recent injuries and age, Hayne said: "You'll have to ask other clubs. My focus is getting the body right and let the rest look after itself.
"I'm just doing me, staying in my lane, and whatever happens, happens.''
Pressed on getting back to his best, Hayne said: "I'm not fortune teller, but I just need to get the body right and see if the legs have still got it.''
Hayne was worshipped in the western suburbs when he first burst on to the scene, and his golden run to lead Parramatta to an unlikely 2009 grand final will never be forgotten.
I'm just doing me, staying in my lane, and whatever happens, happens.
Jarryd Hayne
Even though he remains a freakish talent when fit, he has also made a point of helping out behind the scenes at the club, and even completed media duties on Thursday when injured players were not required.
"One of the main reasons I came back here was to obviously help the club moving forward,' Hayne said.
"That's the biggest thing, helping the blokes on the verge of coming int their prime, guys like 'Gutho' [Clint Gutherson], 'Norm' [Corey Norman], young blokes like that. That's where I see the most rewards.
"It's all good going on the field and doing what I do, but for me it's about pushing those guys.''
Hayne was the player who revved up the forwards last week during the heated session that left players bloodied.
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Mannah would love Hayne's second coming to last longer than a year, and said: "I've seen first-hand what he can do my whole career, and he'd be always someone who would be first picked in my team, but those questions are more for [coach] Brad [Arthur] and his staff.
"Some people just have it, and whatever it is he's got it.''
Mannah said his presence, albeit brief, on the wing last Sunday against Manly had given the players a lift.
Eels boss Bernie Gurr said despite the latest injury, there had been no rush from the club nor player to open negotiations about 2019 and beyond.
"Even if he has three or four weeks off now, we'll still have quite a substantial part of the season for Jarryd to provide us with a representative sample of games so he can show what he has got,'' Gurr said.
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Christian covers rugby league for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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