# Australian NRL star to try his hand at NFL **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 21, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-nrl-star-to-try-his-hand-at-nfl/702083 "2014-10-21T23:33:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-nrl-star-to-try-his-hand-at-nfl/702083/141 "2016-05-16T17:01:16Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > That’s a unsophisticated interpretation. Especially from a poster who was complaining, just a page ago, about non-Americans who disrespect American football because they don’t understand how tough it is. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-nrl-star-to-try-his-hand-at-nfl/702083/142 "2016-05-16T20:05:32Z")
I had a quick skim of the Eligibility rules (24 page [pdf here](http://www.worldrugby.org/wr-resources/WorldRugbyDIR/Handbook/English/pubData/source/files/Regulation_208.pdf) for those who are interested). It looks like Hayne complies, as his dad was Fijian born, and playing league for Australia is irrelevant. He’ll need a Fijian passport though, but if he doesn’t already have one I’m sure PM Bainimarama can sort one out pretty quickly if required. Fiji’s a near certainty for a medal and probably go in as favourites for the gold as well. So much so that I can’t really see what’s in it for them. No doubt the squad member he replaces is going to be pretty damn pissed off. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-nrl-star-to-try-his-hand-at-nfl/702083/143 "2016-05-16T20:13:37Z")
> [@lisiate](#): > > Fiji’s a near certainty for a medal and probably go in as favourites for the gold as well. So much so that I can’t really see what’s in it for them. Well, even favorites aren’t guaranteed to win, so every time you can improve your squad, you’re smart to do it. If they think that Hayne is better than one or more of the current squad members, it’s a perfectly logical decision. For better or worse, nation-shopping has become part of life in international rugby. It was right on display in the [World Cup last year](http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2015/09/13/foreign-born-players-rwc-2015/), where Argentina was the only team (out of 20) made up of totally of native-born players. All other teams had some foreign-born players, with some teams having more than 10. Some of those players established their eligibility through a grandparent, which seems a bit of a stretch to me. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-nrl-star-to-try-his-hand-at-nfl/702083/144 "2016-05-16T21:03:29Z")
It may be moot anyway, as Hayne doesn’t meet the [Olympic drug testing protocol.](http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11639589) ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-nrl-star-to-try-his-hand-at-nfl/702083/145 "2016-05-17T05:41:12Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > That’s a unsophisticated interpretation. Mine would be that it’s really hard to transition to a new sport at age 27. > > I mean Chad Johnson tried out for Sporting KC in MLS. Would you say that means that the 25th best soccer league \> the NFL? Im not talking about football v soccer, NFL v rugby. Chad Johnson never picked up a soccer ball in his life, so its ridiculous for him to expect, especially at his age, to make a top flight American pro team, just like that. Its actually insulting to soccer. Whereas rugby and NFL are similar, with the difference being that rugby fans on a regular basis lampoon the NFL for its short season, pads, helmets etc etc having zero idea how physically tough and complex the sport really is. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-nrl-star-to-try-his-hand-at-nfl/702083/146 "2016-05-17T05:42:56Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Especially from a poster who was complaining, just a page ago, about non-Americans who disrespect American football because they don’t understand how tough it is. Well, heres a top flight rugby player who thought he could just walk on the field in the NFL and be a star. Now, he’s quitting because he couldn’t hack it. It doesn’t get more simplistic of an argument than that. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-nrl-star-to-try-his-hand-at-nfl/702083/147 "2016-05-17T06:16:05Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Well, heres a top flight rugby player who thought he could just walk on the field in the NFL and be a star. Now, he’s quitting because he couldn’t hack it. It doesn’t get more simplistic of an argument than that. Jesus. You know, just on the previous page, i made a concerted effort, as someone who grew up playing and watching rugby, and who has spent the last 15 years in the United States watching NFL, to offer a fair evaluation of both games. In response, you said that you appreciated the effort because you get annoyed when rugby fans mock the NFL for its pads and helmets. And yet now you apparently feel it’s fine to adopt the same ignorant and wrongheaded and narrow-minded provincialism that you were previously criticizing? Glass houses, stones, and all that. And nowhere do i ever recall Hayne even suggesting that “he could just walk on the field in the NFL and be a star.” In fact, basically every interview and story i read back when he first made the decision had him saying that he was doing it precisely because it knew it would be a very tough challenge. [Here’s what he said](http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/just-a-boy-from-minto-why-jarryd-hayne-cried-during-the-announcement-20141015-116apu.html) just after announcing that he was leaving his rugby league team to take a shot at the NFL: > [@](#): > > “I tell people all the time to follow their heart,” he said on Wednesday. “I tell people all the time to challenge themselves, to not be comfortable. Don’t do something that’s easy, don’t do something that’s going to make you a better person.” > > Throughout the press conference, Hayne repeatedly stressed that his future would not be easy. He is yet to sign with a club and has not done extensive NFL training. > > “I know there are going to be hard times ahead for myself,” he said. "There are going to be dark days. There’s going to be times when I’m over there with no friends and no family, and I’m going to have to find something a bit more than love and passion, and I know I’ve got that. I’ve got that motivation. > > “I made a big decision today. Realistically I should have made it 12 months ago, but I guess I didn’t have the courage, didn’t have the manhood to do that. Today I do. I know it’s going to be tough for some people, but as I stated before, as a person, as an athlete, that’s where I want to head.” And [here](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-15/jarryd-hayne-quits-nrl-for-nfl-code-swap/5814888), again, around the same time: > [@](#): > > An emotional Hayne said that his challenge to make the league, starting out as a free-agent, was “ultimately a 12-month plan”. > > “It’s not going to be easy. I don’t have any experience in NFL, I don’t have a contract, I haven’t signed with anyone,” Hayne told a media gathering. > > "I’ll be a free agent, it will give me the opportunity to go over there and train and potentially, hopefully, play NFL one day. > > “That’s the dream, that’s the challenge I’ve set myself. I’m excited.” > > Hayne believes he has the requisite skills to make it as either a punt returner or kick returner. > > “I believe I have the speed, I’m a quick learner, I feel things out really quickly. I have no doubt it’s going to be tough,” he said. Almost every other story i recall from the time had a similar tone. He clearly (and understandably) has the sort of self-confidence that most sporting superstars have, with a strong sense of belief in his own abilities (NO-ONE would make it in rugby or the NFL without that), but he never seemed to me like he thought he had the whole thing sewn up, or that he was just going to walk on and be a star. Unless you have some evidence for your assertion, i’ll have to assume that it was the product of a fevered imagination; either that, or you’re just taking the opportunity to take a petulant jab at all the big mean rugby fans who have criticized American football. > [@russian\_heel](#): > > Well, heres a top flight rugby player who thought he could just walk on the field in the NFL and be a star. Now, he’s quitting because he couldn’t hack it. It doesn’t get more simplistic of an argument than that. I definitely agree with your last sentence, although probably not in the way you would hope. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-nrl-star-to-try-his-hand-at-nfl/702083/148 "2016-05-18T05:30:35Z")
> [@](#): > > . . you’re just taking the opportunity to take a petulant jab at all the big mean rugby fans who have criticized American football. Nailed it. And don’t tell me thats not the dominant thinking of most rugby fans, either. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-nrl-star-to-try-his-hand-at-nfl/702083/149 "2021-03-23T02:42:37Z")
> [@lisiate](#): > > One day Hayne’s story will make a great movie. That movie has now taken a rather dark turn. > **[Former 49ers phenom Jarryd Hayne found guilty of sexual assault in Australia](https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/03/22/former-49ers-phenom-jarryd-hayne-found-guilty-of-sexual-assault-in-australia/)** > > Former 49ers player Jarryd Hayne was convicted of sexual assault stemming from a 2018 incident in Australia, three years after a similar allegation in San Jose. ---
**Author:** ![stuccosuperstar2020](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@stuccosuperstar2020](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuccosuperstar2020)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-nrl-star-to-try-his-hand-at-nfl/702083/150 "2021-03-25T10:11:44Z")
Just an update, it appears former rugby player Jordan Mailiata is THIS close to earning a starting position as an NFL left tackle with the Philadelphia Eagles, ONLY 3 friggin years after getting drafted. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-nrl-star-to-try-his-hand-at-nfl/702083.md?page=7)