Jarryd Hayne's huge success in USA is great for rugby league : Sun Sep 06, 2015 5:00 pm  

Jarryd Hayne has won a place in the San Francisco 49ers 53 man roster for 2015-16.

This represents one of the greatest code switches in sporting history.

It required enormous courage, dedication and talent.

It also gives great publicity to rugby league, because the words rugby league and NRL are all over the NFL and San Francisco 49ers websites.

I fear however that NFL agents will soon descend on Australia and New Zealand, and might possibly snare other NRL stars like Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Jason Taumololo, James Roberts, Anthony Milford, Semi Radradra or Marika Koroibete.

They might even look at the Under 20s, and grab superstars in the making, like Sydney Roosters full back Latrell Mitchell.

In Britain they may chase Zachary Hardaker, Kallum Watkins, Ryan Hall, Thomas Briscoe, George Williams, and Dominic Manfredi, and in France Fouad Yaha.

Regardless, Hayne's achievement in such a short time, with only four preseason games under his belt, has been amazing. It shows the superior athleticism of the top rugby league stars.

Re: Jarryd Hayne's huge success in USA is great for rugby le : Sun Sep 06, 2015 6:06 pm  

Think Yaha will be safe

Re: Jarryd Hayne's huge success in USA is great for rugby le : Sun Sep 06, 2015 6:07 pm  

Halifax1989 wrote:

Think Yaha will be safe

This year I agree. But what about next year?

Re: Jarryd Hayne's huge success in USA is great for rugby le : Sun Sep 06, 2015 6:08 pm  

wouldnt worry

Re: Jarryd Hayne's huge success in USA is great for rugby le : Sun Sep 06, 2015 11:42 pm  

As with Burgess to RU, nobody can cite a tangible benefit for RL. A feel-good factor because one of ours is a star elsewhere is worth precisely zero. Publicity means nothing if it isn't backed up by cash. The downside is Hayne leaving the NRL and not playing this sport. Even worse if a few others leave to try to copy him.

Re: Jarryd Hayne's huge success in USA is great for rugby le : Mon Sep 07, 2015 12:35 am  

BrisbaneRhino wrote: As with Burgess to RU, nobody can cite a tangible benefit for RL. A feel-good factor because one of ours is a star elsewhere is worth precisely zero. Publicity means nothing if it isn't backed up by cash. The downside is Hayne leaving the NRL and not playing this sport. Even worse if a few others leave to try to copy him. Huge publicity for the sport. For example: https://twitter.com/nfl/status/640275355824054272 This video montage showing Hayne playing in the NRL, including the NRL in the tweet, from an account with 13 million followers. Hayne on his own doesn't mean the game will grow in the USA, but if for example Parramatta played a friendly in San Francisco, I think they'd be successful. We just need the vision to capitalise on it. I think it's different with rugby union because we're two sports generally competing in the same countries for the same players. Hayne going to the NFL is a story that is completely out of left field.

BrisbaneRhino wrote: As with Burgess to RU, nobody can cite a tangible benefit for RL. A feel-good factor because one of ours is a star elsewhere is worth precisely zero. Publicity means nothing if it isn't backed up by cash. The downside is Hayne leaving the NRL and not playing this sport. Even worse if a few others leave to try to copy him. Huge publicity for the sport. For example: https://twitter.com/nfl/status/640275355824054272 This video montage showing Hayne playing in the NRL, including the NRL in the tweet, from an account with 13 million followers. Hayne on his own doesn't mean the game will grow in the USA, but if for example Parramatta played a friendly in San Francisco, I think they'd be successful. We just need the vision to capitalise on it. I think it's different with rugby union because we're two sports generally competing in the same countries for the same players. Hayne going to the NFL is a story that is completely out of left field.

Re: Jarryd Hayne's huge success in USA is great for rugby le : Mon Sep 07, 2015 7:05 am  

Millions of people in the USA have now seen part of Hayne's rugby league highlights reel thanks to the NFL promotional video which intertwined some of his NRL highlights with some of his NFL preseason highlights. It will surely make some Americans interested in checking out rugby league -- the game which their newest NFL star has emerged from.

Re: Jarryd Hayne's huge success in USA is great for rugby le : Mon Sep 07, 2015 8:14 am  

In 5 years time we'll still have the same dilemma of converting publicity into sponsorship, money, crowds, player retention...

Re: Jarryd Hayne's huge success in USA is great for rugby le : Mon Sep 07, 2015 9:16 am  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

EDIT.

A reasonably good thread ruined by the word Zachary

Re: Jarryd Hayne's huge success in USA is great for rugby le : Mon Sep 07, 2015 9:11 pm  

I don't see any reason to be cheering. We've lost the guy. And if League's "benefit" means the NFL is about to start pinching more of our players then pardon me for not uncorking the champagne.