Gold Coast NRL star Jarryd Hayne says he may follow the lead of Ben Barba and chance his arm playing rugby in Europe.
Just six months after Hayne was trumpeted as the greatest signing in Gold Coast history, the Titans face an enormous battle to retain the two-time Dally M superstar.
In an interview with Newscorp Australia, Hayne said he’s keeping an open mind on his professional sporting options.
The former San Francisco 49ers player revealed he has interest from French rugby and has not ruled out emulating Toulon recruit Barba by again heading overseas.
“There has definitely been interest from them (French rugby) and for me, it’s the timing of it and whether I want to chance my arm at it,” said Hayne, who suffered a minor knee injury over the weekend at the NRL Nines.
“Everything is an option, I don’t like to live in narrow vision.
“I played rugby when I was growing up. As a kid I did a lot of sports. That’s why it pisses me off when everyone carries on when someone changes sports.
“As kids, we are encouraged to try every sport we can, so as an adult, why should that change?
“That’s my stand on things. We get paid to do a job and we have to work our asses off at training, but once that contract is finished, if someone wants to try something different, that’s up to them.”
BrainsTrust
Guest
The crazy thing about what Hayne did was to go from NFL to rugby sevens. Th ranking of sports in terms of fitness levels is. 1. rugby sevens (fitness has to be at a high level for all positions) 2. rugby league (fitness has to be high for the forwards and halves, outer backs and fullbacks can get away with moderate fitness though most are at high) 3. rugby union (loose forwards fitness high, other forwards moderate, backline moderate fitness, five eigth fitness is optional) 4. NFL( fitness optional all positions) Once you go down to 4, life at 3 is going to be a lot more bearable than life at 2.
KillaKanga
Roar Rookie
Sven Original and funny as Thanks for the laugh ?
KillaKanga
Roar Rookie
As far as I am concerned Hayne can go play professional tiddley winks He lost me totally with that "It's not about money" crap back in '14. Funny how everything else since then has been about money including heading to the Gold Coast because they offered the most cash... I dont begrudge him earning while he can but don't be a douchbag hypocrite while doing it
Sven Jensen
Guest
Hayne ...... Oxford dictionary def. an organism which lives in or on another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other's expense
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Name these hundreds of elite NRL players that have played representative football who remained loyal to their club, fans, and sponsors that have failed to pick up a premiership ring? Off the top of my head only a few worthy recipients have been denied. Ettinghausen, Steve Rogers, and (controversally after the Storm were stripped of The Premiership) Nathan Hindmarsh.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Oh for heaven's sake, there have hundreds and hundreds of professional players who 'put the team first' and still never won a premiership. That's meaningless as evidence. And in what way has Hayne blabbered on? All he said was that he has had offers and he'll consider them. That's blabbering?!?
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
The point is that Smith is class - he wouldn't blabber like Hayne has. He understands the mentality needed to forge an unbreakable bond that a playing group requires to take out the big one. Hayne is the new Mundine. He cares only of his own goals and aspirations and not of the core group around him. RL is a team sport and that's why the pair of them are yet to have a premiership ring sitting on their finger
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
If Cameron Smith did it? Everyone would be singing his praises for being such a good ambassador for the sport. Or something.
Mushi
Guest
Which is entirely different to a contract, implying Jeff got taught very little as a young one. If everyone honoured their word contracts would be superfluous. Also did Hayne promise to never talk about another sport?
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
If Cameron Smith made a public announcement that he was thinking of accepting an offer from French Rugby, how do you think The Storm players around him would react and perform? A reminder of what happened to The Dragons when Wayne Bennett notified them that he was heading to Newcastle at the seasons end. They went from first on the ladder (Sportbet had already decided to pay out on them for the minor premiership) to fifth.
bearfax
Guest
I'm always behind the times BigJ. In fact its 11 in the morning, and I'm sure I just saw the first signs of daybreak in my bedroom window. Oh damn. Just realised my bedroom window faces west
Jacko
Guest
Wasnt there some QLD grub who refused to honour his contract "Because he didnt want to play for them anymore"? Tallis I think was his name. Arhh the good old days
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
He loves publicity?
Rick Diznek
Guest
Yet another AAP article with little Jimmy Morton's fingerprints all over it. All he has now is these code warrior articles given his beloved union has gone belly up in Australia. On ya little Jimmy.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
If a few minutes of answering a journalist's questions is going to put off a team's focus for an entire year... Geez people find odd things to complain about in league.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Already got that covered mate, just making up that bandwagon now !!!!
bearfax
Guest
Maybe we supporters should switch clubs based on performances to make sure the admin of those clubs are kept on their toes
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
The human headline strikes again. Perhaps Hayne and Nick Krygios could start up their own basketball team. Imagine the press conferences. Neil Henry and the Titans administration must just love it when Hayne comes up with another "me, myself, I " comment. I'm a bit of fan of the Titans but I liked them a lot more when Hayne wasn't part of their squad.
matth
Guest
I'm sure we would all prefer it if Hayne went to a training course on openly answering media questions, run by Darius Boyd with Wayne Bennett as consultant.
matth
Guest
Yeah, you need loyalty like Les Boyd, Ray Brown, John Dorahy, Steve Edge, Artie Beetson, Ron Coote, Half the Souths/Manly 72-73 side, Johnny Raper, Bob McCarthy ...etc, etc. Players have changed clubs for more money since time began. And I heard Dally Messenger had always had a dream to leave Rugby Union and play that new Rugby League game ever since he played EA Sports Northern Game on the PS minus 12.