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Yes, the odds are stacked high against Jarryd Hayne realising his dream, but that is not the point.
The point is that he is prepared to take a chance. So what if he doesn’t succeed – at least he will have had a go. That is something for which he should be admired.
The reaction on social media to Hayne’s decision to abandon his rugby league career and try to win a contract in the NFL has been widespread and interesting.
Most of it has been encouraging, starting with those who know little or nothing about the NFL and simply wish him the best.
Some fans with a detailed knowledge of the game have painted an accurate picture of why it is going to be extremely hard for him to succeed, while still giving him kudos for trying.
And then there have been those – thankfully in a small minority, as far as I can see – who have simply either ridiculed or rubbished his ambition.
Why they even bother to do that, I don’t know. They may want to ask themselves whether they would ever have the guts to go out of their own comfort zone at the risk of failure.
Hayne is not weak of mind, so he is not going to be put off by all of the negatives being detailed. It’s not like he didn’t already know there were going to be massive hurdles to overcome anyway.
He’s already had one victory, with the story of his bid to crack the NFL being picked up by leading US sports websites. That may at least create a bit of a curiosity factor for him.
I don’t know if Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush had a genuine connection with Hayne or was just playing the game when the two hooked up for publicity purposes during a promotional visit by Bush at State of Origin time and Bush described Hayne as a potential NFL player.
But any positive word in the right ear from Bush that might get Hayne a toe in the door somewhere obviously wouldn’t hurt.
Back here, Paul Manera, a well-known coach at the Bondi Raiders club, which plays in the gridiron NSW competition, was integral in getting former NRL player Peni Tagive an introduction at Baylor University, where he was granted a football scholarship.
Manera appeals as someone whose advice Hayne may be well advised to seek, if he hasn’t done so already.
Hayne obviously wouldn’t be simply turning up in the US and hoping for the best. Presumably, his agent here, Wayne Beavis, is seeking to arrange agent representation for him over there.
Starting off in his bid to get on an NFL club playing roster for next season, Hayne plans to train in Los Angeles.
Regional NFL scouting combines are conducted in numerous American cities during February and March and Hayne would presumably be eligible to attend as a free agent who does not have a professional contract in another competition.
Starting in July, NFL teams invite numerous free agents to training camps to decide whether they are worth any of the spots left on their 53-man rosters.
The NFL competition begins in September.
There has been a lot of speculation about what position might best suit Hayne. It appears the best way in for him would be through special teams, primarily as a kick returner.
He could use skills he has developed as a fullback in the NRL and it would be easier to learn than more complex positions in the offense and defence.
But, of course, nothing about this is going to be simple for Hayne. There are going to be thousands of Americans who have been playing the game all their lives chasing the same spots as him.
It’s a long-shot, but good on him for having the courage to back himself in trying to pull it off.
The big losers in all of this are the Parramatta Eels, who can’t adequately replace him. He is up there with Johnathan Thurston at North Queensland when it comes to the degree of influence he has over his team’s results.
It is possible he will be back in 2016, but that won’t help them next year.
There is no way Hayne should feel guilty for leaving the club, however. He owes everything to Parramatta, but at the same time he owes nothing. They have both done pretty well out of their mutual relationship.
The Eels nurtured Hayne and brought him through to first grade, and he has been loyal to the club and re-signed at least twice when he could have earned more money elsewhere.
Now he’s taking a gamble that could earn him nothing – or make his dream come true. When he finally made that decision, he was clearly very comfortable with it.
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