Gold Coast Titan Jarryd Hayne has indicated his intent to take part in the 2017 Auckland Nines, to kick off in early February next year.
The Warriors’ Shaun Johnson told New Zealand’s Radio Sport Hayne had would play in the tournament, which will be in its fourth incarnation since starting in 2014.
“He’s done a lot hasn’t he? He’s an awesome player and awesome athlete. We played him in his first game months ago and he smoked me,” Johnson said of Hayne.
Hayne joins local hero Johnson and best player in the world maybe ever Johnathan Thurston to indicate their intention to play in the tournament.
A number of high-profile players have pulled out of the Nines across the past few years, citing niggling injuries and an overcrowded schedule, so Hayne’s decision gives the event some welcome star power.
While the style of league played at the Nines differs markedly from that played throughout the NRL season, the tournament has been an indicator of NRL success in recent years. Both the North Queensland Cowboys and the Rabbitohs have won the Nines as well as winning the NRL premiership in the past three years, while this year’s champions Parramatta had their title stripped from them as part of their salary cap scandal.
2014 Nines runners up Brisbane again finished second in the 2015 NRL season – both times to the Cowboys – while 2015 Auckland Nines silver medallists Cronulla took out the 2016 NRL title.
But the announcement was not greeted warmly by all. While some Gold Coast and Auckland-based rugby league fans might have rejoiced at the news, the internet has been less a little kind.
Hayne’s decision got some rough treatment on Reddit. The faux headline ‘Breaking: Footy player will play footy’ – and comments like it – was getting plenty of traction.
Hayne impressed in his handful of appearances towards the back end of last year, steering the Titans to their first finals appearance in years, but he did look rusty at times.
He will be looking to get some more rugby league under his belt ahead of the 2017 season, in which the Titans are favoured to make the finals. It will be the fourth oval-ball sport Hayne has participated in in the past year, having played NFL, rugby sevens, rugby league and now the abridged version of the latter.
Hayne is yet to make an official statement on the reports, and is currently in Fiji promoting the Fiji International Golf Tournament.
Good luck to @bowdo83 last day of the cuts for @FijiIntl pic.twitter.com/K3b6BjfbfQ
— jarryd hayne (@JarrydHayne) October 6, 2016
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