NRL boss Dave Smith attempted to use his new marquee player discretion to keep US-bound Jarryd Hayne in rugby league.
But the Parramatta superstar told him he was chasing a dream rather than money in attempting to break into the NFL.
Smith spoke to Hayne ahead of the Australian and NSW star’s stunning announcement on Wednesday he was leaving the NRL to follow his dream of becoming an NFL player.
“This is one of those clear cut cases where I would have been happy to use my marquee player discretion to try to keep Jarryd in the NRL,” Smith said in a statement.
“In fact, I was in contact with Jarryd, his manager and the Eels management last night and this morning to see if there was anything we could do to keep him in the game.
“But Jarryd has a dream and he deserves the chance to pursue that dream.
“He is a gifted athlete who has been a wonderful asset for rugby league and we wish him well in his next challenge.”
Following the NRL’s inability to seal the deal for Israel Folau to return to rugby league after his AFL stint and concern over a player drain to rugby union led by Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Burgess, Smith was granted discretionary powers to top up wages bills to keep elite players in the code.
Smith said there would be no barriers to Hayne’s return to the NRL, if his NFL bid doesn’t work out.
And he put on a brave face about the loss of three such high profile stars as Hayne, Williams and Burgess following the 2014 season.
“I have no doubt new stars will come through the ranks to replace those leaving the game,” Smith said.
“One of the great things about the NRL is that there is always exciting new talent coming through the ranks to become the superstars of the future.”
Alvin Purple
Guest
But Jack they firstly have to be good enough to make it into the NFL which is very difficult. So 99% players would not even be considered French and Japanese Rugby may have the money but why any real good player want to play in these second rate competitions. The NRL is clearly the best club competition of any of the Rugby codes and the SOO the most intense form of competiton only which can really be matched by an All Blacks v SA game (which as an Australian you can not take part in). The rest of world rugby teams including Australia contain half the squads with a bunch of slow fat forwards who have no real athletic competition other than an ability to push hard in scrums. Rugby League may be a tiny fish in a big pond but there really is not that many alternatives especially in Rugby Union where apart from NZ, the Pacific Island and the white population of SA (all of which have a similar population similar to that of NSW and QLD) the sport runs a long second to football.
kiwijack
Guest
The marquee allowance will not retain the good players from swapping codes. If money is the issue then the NRL will lose as other codes particularly overseas have huge bank accounts. In the NFL I dont think there is a salary cap and if Hayne is half decent he will get millions. French and Japanese rugby have huge amounts of cash to throw around. The NRL is a tiny fish in a very big sea.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
Should a marquee allowance (x1 per club) only be allowed to be used at times when other codes attempt to poach elite players? (noting always open to abuse from managers).
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Yeah, couldn't agree more. It's only a matter of time until someone uses the marquee allowance to hold the game to ransom / circumvent the Salary Cap.
maximillian
Guest
This is the issue I have with the marquee allowance as elite players can effectively hold the game to ransom. Players like Inglis/JT should talk to Dave Smith about moving codes so they can get this marquee allowance as well. With Hayne/Burgess/SBW all leaving, the NRL cant afford to lose anymore stars. Even if they arent realistic about changing codes, the threat would get them the marquee allowance so why not get some extra cash?
nerval
Guest
Gould's article in the Sydney Morning Herald about Jarryd Hayne's move is about as far away from being a "naysaying" one as it is possible to get.
Big Marn Not DB
Guest
So true Zedman. It is not always about money. It it the challenge. The only challenge for him in the NRL is to win the premiership. JH seems to be man who has the "one club player" dream. He could try to move to a stronger club but on a 900K plus salary tag he would struggle to walk into a "good to go" club. (maybe manly ... at this stage) and would probably end up in club at the same stage as the Eels. What should be worrying Parramatta fans the most the fact that JH has seen himself having more chance of "making it" in the NFL (which is a long shot anyway) than the Eels winning a flag. Also what happens if it does not work out for JH in the NFL and decides he has to come back to the NRL in 2016 and the Eels have spent their 900K JH money on someone like Brett Stewart? Can't the NRL boss offering his "Marquee Money" to a player who failed in another code. THat money is tightly retained to stop sucessful current players going to another code or attract successful players from other codes. If the NRL handed that money willy nilly every player and his dog would be doing the Andrew Johns thing, you know six months out from the end of his contract expiring he "Talks" with Rugby Union and negotiates a fee that puts that back to the NRL saying "I'm going to RU unless ... " all in an attempt to lift his net worth without actually going to RU.
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Imo a lot more players are going to test themselves in different sports especially after playing Tests and SOO. The naysayers such as Gould and most of the boffins on the footy show should accept that it isn't always about money