Successful dual sports star Anthony Mundine reckons Jarryd Hayne will find it a lot easier to make the transition from rugby league to the NFL than if he was switching to a sport for individuals.
Mundine is the poster boy for rugby league players who have moved into another sport other than rugby union.
He ended a blossoming rugby league career at the age of 24 in 2000, having represented NSW at Origin level the previous year.
Mundine then embarked on a boxing career that is still going, and that has gleaned world, regional and Australian title belts.
While breaking into the NFL would seem a big ask for Hayne, Mundine insisted it wouldn’t be as hard switching between team sports as it would be moving into a sport for individuals, like boxing.
“He (Hayne) has got the crazy athleticism, he’s very explosive, and that’s what the NFL likes,” Mundine told AAP.
“They love explosive players, he’s got great footwork.
“But we’re talking about going from team to team so he’s doing something similar in running and agility and all that type of stuff.
“Going from a team sport to boxing that’s like an individual, is totally opposite, a gladiatorial warrior sport.
“That’s way harder than trying to adjust to a sport that’s similar to what you’ve already done.”
Before heading to America last month, Hayne trained with another former rugby league player, Corey Paterson, who in 2008 trialled as a punter and kick-off specialist with a number of NFL clubs.
27-year-old Paterson, who played over 100 first grade games in a nine-year rugby league career in Australia and England, recently quit the code to become a full-time boxer, having won his only professional bout back in 2012.
“‘Choc’ (Mundine) has been a bit of a role model of mine for a long time and I spoke to him before making the transition and he’s helped me out a lot,” Paterson told AAP.
Mundine believes Paterson’s decision to concentrate on boxing fulltime will give him a much better chance of succeeding than if tried to juggle it with rugby league.
“We speak all the time, but he’s only in the early stages,” Mundine said.
“You need a good two years of building, I believe.”
Paterson, who is being coached by well-regarded trainer David Birchall, has no intention of developing into the kind of slugging brawler that so many other boxers with a league background have.
“I’m a bit taller with a bit longer arms, so (I want to) use my jab to set things up,” the 195cm tall Paterson said.
“I’m not going to be a brawler,” added Paterson, who will fight pro debutant Michael Lua Tama in Melbourne on November 12, on the undercard of Mundine’s fight with Sergey Rabchenko.
macca
Guest
nate he is fighting a 28 year old man that has never been beaten and has 28 of his 25 wins coming by way of knock out why are u reading and commenting on him if you dont like him i bet your a fan of his deep down ,go the man!
Glenn Innes
Guest
Yes Yes and Yea , much of what Mundine said is correct Rugby League is much closer to American Football than Boxing is... completely correct. Hayne has to make to make a fifty three man roster, there are thirty two teams so he has to be won of the best 1696 American Footballers in the "world".A world that doesn't exist beyond North America. Mundine would certainly have been one of the best 1696 fighters in the world in a sport that other than soccer is the most universal on the planet, Sure Mundine dodged the very best but he fought credible fighters...top ten fighters - to compare it to playing American Football in Australia against a bunch of weekend hobbyists is just stupid.
Garry Edwards
Guest
Have to agree Mushi.
Mushi
Guest
No. No. Then No. Seriously this is click bait and why the roar is losing credibility fast
Nate
Guest
I think you mean if Hayne found a league of 40 something year old guys who never were and decided to play against them it may be similar. Mundine, get off the crack pipe mate, it's no good for you.
Steve Kerr
Roar Rookie
On the other hand, Hayne will also be trying his strength against the biggest and best names in his new sport, so that should balance things out in terms of difficulty. If Hayne were to stay and try his hand at American Football in Australia, it would be more akin to Mundine's boxing career.