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Jarryd Hayne’s journey in the NFL will continue after it was announced he made the cut for the San Francisco 49ers 53-man squad.
Since leaving the NRL at the end of last year, it has long been debated whether Hayne had what it takes to star in one of the most competitive football leagues in the world.
Hayne has had a phenomenal run through the NFL pre-season, eliminating all doubts around whether he can hold his own in the NFL.
Considering he has only played four games of American football in his life, it has been a remarkable start to a professional career.
49ers coach Jim Tomsula says Jarryd Hayne beat astronomical odds to make the team’s 53-man squad.
Tomsula said it’s hard enough for Americans who played the game to make an NFL roster, but for a guy from Australia to travel to the US without experience and be successful is unique.
“It’s a tremendous achievement,” Tomsula told reporters on a conference call.
“I think that’s why people are so enamoured.”
Tomsula said he told Hayne via a text message that he made the 53-man squad.
The coach declined to say if Hayne would start as the punt returner for the 49ers’ first game of the regular season against the Minnesota Vikings.
But, he did say it was Hayne’s all-round skills as a punt returner, his tackling, running the football and other aspects of his play, as well as his dedication to learning the game, that convinced the coaching staff he was an NFL player.
Tomsula also added Hayne had plenty of work to do.
“He’s by no means a finished product,” he said.
“But the type of person he is and the approach he has taken, he’s the kind of player we want here.”
Hayne will suit up for the 49ers in their September 14 NFL regular season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on their home field, Levi’s Stadium.
Just months ago Hayne had to tuck a piece of paper with NFL plays into his pants because he struggled to retain the volumes of plays and terminology most players learn growing up playing American football in high school and college in the US.
All the hard work and study has paid off.
On Saturday he learned he survived when 37 other NFL players, many veterans or prized college players, had been cut from the 49ers.
“IT ALWAYS WORKS OUT!” Hayne tweeted.
“I thank GOD for WHAT HE has done and going to do on this incredible journey!!”
Hayne was a sensation in the pre-season, topping or near the top in running back and punt return statistics for all NFL players.
You could say Hayne was pretty happy about it when it was announced.
IT ALWAYS WORKS OUT! I thank GOD for WHAT HE has done and going to do on this incredible journey!! I'm on the 53 MAN ROSTER FOR THE #49ers.
— jarryd hayne (@jarrydhayne_1) September 5, 2015
Here is Hayne’s list of achievements in preseason
WEEK ONE: 49ers lose 23-10 in Houston
* Hayne makes his debut for the 49ers and immediately makes an impact
* Hayne leads both teams in rushing yards – makes 63 yards, with a best run of 53 yards, run leads to 49ers only touchdown of the game.
WEEK TWO: 49ers defeat Cowboys 23-6 at home
* Hayne again makes the most rushing yards in the match with 54 and a longest run of 34 yards.
* Hayne shows off his NRL fullback skills for the first time making a game longest punt return of 34 yards and averaging 28 yards on his three punt returns.
* Takes one of the punts “over the shoulder” astounding commentators before another scything run actually sees it ended when Hayne is tackled by the punter himself.
* Commentators “They might just have to find a roster spot for this guy.”
WEEK THREE: 49ers lose 19-12 at Denver
* Hayne plays limited minutes in the match as coach Jim Tomsula assesses other options.
* Only makes one punt return but still makes a game-high 12 yards with it.
* Makes 18-yard reception off a Colin Kaepernick pass.
WEEK FOUR: 49ers defeat San Diego Chargers 14-12 at home
* Hayne leads all teams in rushing with 58 yards and a game-high rush of 19 yards.
* Learns to get out of bounds instead of being tackled and drops the shoulder into a Chargers defender at the end of the run.
* Makes over 100 all purpose yards for the game.
* Hayne makes a 28-yard punt return and averages 14 yards on punt returns.
* Hayne also shows his value as a defensive player making a tackle on punt coverage.
Timeline of Jarryd Hayne’s career to date:
Born: February 15, 1988 (age 27)
Height: 189cm or 6’2″
Weight: 100kg or 220lbs
NRL club: Parramatta Eels – Played 176 games for 103 tries
NRL Debut: Round 11, 2006 vs Penrith
REP CAREER:
Tests: 15 Tests for Australia scoring 11 tries
4 Tests for Fiji scoring 3 trie
Test Debut: 2007, Australia vs New Zealand
State of Origin: 20 matches for 9 tries
State of Origin Debut: Game One, 2007
NRL Games: 176
NRL Tries: 103
AWARDS AND HONOURS:
Dally M Rookie of the Year 2006
Brad Fittler Medal: 2007, 2008 and 2014
Dally M Winger of the Year: 2007
Dally M Fullback of the Year: 2009, 2014
Dally M Player of the Year: 2009, 2014* (Ties with Johnathan Thurston)
RLIF Fullback of the Year: 2009
RLIF Player of the Year: 2009
Dally M Representative Player of the Year: 2014
MILESTONE MOMENTS
2006
– Scored 17 tries in 16 games in his debut season as Parramatta move into NRL finals.
2009
– Produced a sparkling run of form which propelled Parramatta from mid-table all the way to the grand final which they ultimately lost to Melbourne Storm.
2013
– Named co-captain of Parramatta. After being knocked unconscious early in the World Cup final for Australia, Hayne produced a man-of-the-match performance to help win the trophy back.
2014
– Leads the Blues to a drought-breaking win over Queensland in the State of Origin series.
– Announces he will leave the Eels to chase his dream of playing in the NFL.
2015
– Announces he has signed a contract with the San Francisco 49ers. After shining in pre-season games and at camp makes the final 49ers squad.
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