THE man charged with identifying talent for the Greater Western Sydney AFL side has revealed that Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings and Israel Folau will be targets for its inaugural season.
With the NRL still reeling from the shock defection of Karmichael Hunt, GWS academies manager Andrew Hill ensured the cross-code war continues by placing the Kangaroos trio at the top of his hit-list.
Hill, a respected rugby league administrator who most recently held key roles with the Parramatta Eels, was unveiled as the latest NRL official to join GWS during the week. And while he stressed his main role would be identifying the best new talent in the region, Hill confirmed that league's biggest names were in his sights for their inaugural season in 2012.
''Hayne, Folau and Jennings are all terrific athletes,'' Hill told The Sun-Herald.
''I wouldn't rule out targeting those players. 'They are certainly three players that we'd like to have.
''They're also western Sydney athletes and when they were coming up through the junior system rugby league was the only sport in the region.
''They didn't have many opportunities to look over the other side of the fence.
''If they had an interest in AFL, they would tick a lot of the boxes.
''They are three people we'd have opportunities for.''
Hunt signed a three-year deal with Gold Coast in July, a move which has given the new AFL team priceless publicity ahead of its debut season in 2011. And the latest revelations will put the NRL on notice that its best players will continue to be targeted in an attempt to win the battle of the west.
Hayne is yet to put pen to paper but is expected to re-sign with Parramatta upon his return from the Kangaroos' Four Nations tour, while Jennings will be a free agent at the end of next season. Folau, who missed the tour through injury, is one year into a four-season deal at Brisbane. All three are a marketer's dream and are seen as having the physical attributes required to make the switch.
Hill said his main focus is to unearth the ''next Hayne, Folau and Jennings'' - although he was hopeful of snaring the current ones as well.
''The franchise will be looking at every talented athlete in the region,'' he said.
''Whether they play rugby league, soccer, basketball - it's really about trying to attract first-choice athletes.
''It's not just about Blacktown. My role is to look at the whole region and there are 14 local government areas that Western Sydney covers.
''One of my jobs will be to develop the first local hero, the first player to come through and play in the national competition.
''Finding athletes 12 years and older is where I come into it.
''It would also be great to unearth someone like Kieren Jack, a guy who left rugby league and has become a high-profile Sydney sports person.''
Meanwhile, Manly are expecting an answer from Matt Orford ''by the end of the weekend'' as speculation mounts that he'll join English Super League club Bradford. The Sea Eagles have tabled a two-year deal but can't compete with the Bulls' offer.
