Jarryd Hayne's Switch From Rugby League to American Football

Jarryd Hayne
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Jarryd Hayne was one of the best rugby league players in the world on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he was not.

Hayne announced on Wednesday that he would be quitting the sport of rugby league in order to pursue a career in the NFL.

The Australian is 26 years old, was a member of the Parramatta Eels of Australia's National Rugby League, the Australian rugby league national team, and the New South Wales rugby league team. Hayne had just won his second Daily M Medal this year for being the best player in the NRL and also won the award for best fullback.

The decision shocked Australia. While Hayne said at his announcement that he was thinking about doing this for almost two years, it came as a surprise. The NRL could have used a clause to keep him in the league, but both the league and Eels gave Hayne their best wishes and told him to go fulfill his dream. 

Hayne is not the only prominent rugby league player to leave the sport this year. Sam Burgess and Sonny Bill Williams also left the sport at the end of the 2014 season. Both switched to rugby union.

The comparison being made to Hayne's decision is to when Michael Jordan switched from basketball at the height of his career to baseball. While, the comparison can be made, it is not close to being the same. Jordan left basketball to play baseball, a sport that is popular in the USA. Hayne is leaving to play in american football, a sport that is not popular in Australia, and is also being played on the other side of the Earth. You also have to remember that Hayne is not the only rugby league star leaving the sport. There has never been anything like this before.

Jarryd Hayne
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If Hayne makes it to the NFL, he would most likely be a running back who may also return kicks and punts. Hayne could be a tenacious runner out of the backfield, especially in goal-line and short distance situations. He has the intangibles to be a complete running back, both with his speed, his power, and his hands. If kicking returns does not work, he could also be a great special teamer. 

It is being reported that Hayne is being looked at by at least six NFL teams, one of those teams being the Detroit Lions. Hayne may be signed before the season ends, but the chance he plays in a NFL game this year is pretty much impossible. 

Hayne can make it to the NFL. He has the physical attributes and the work ethic to play in the NFL by next season. His success playing american football could be very high, and it could also be low. The key to Hayne's success how quickly he will understand a playbook and how much knowledge of the game he will have. I look forward to seeing Hayne on a football field on Sundays next Fall.