In a bid to fast-track his NFL education Jarryd Hayne has been bending his back at training with the San Francisco 49ers defensive team.
Hayne, whose step and swerve terrorised opposition players and coaches during his NRL career, has been driving his muscles into his heavier teammates in his quest to understand every aspect of the American game.
The two-time Dally M medallist said he never considered returning to rugby league despite being dropped to the 49ers practice squad. Indeed, he's credited the demotion for providing a deeper appreciation for the game he took by storm during the pre-season when head coach Jim Tomsula unleashed his rookie from Australia despite his having no playing experience and, at best, a basic knowledge of NFL.
Hayne who has adopted the Fijian falcon as his personal trademark said the time he has spent doing "reps" or repeat drills has accelerated his education and he's excited to think what's possible when that knowledge can be used to build on what he's already achieved in his six NFL appearances.
"The first week or two [after being dropped] it didn't really hit because I felt I was still learning the game, the basics of it," Hayne said. "But now, having time out, and being able to take a step back and observe what I need to improve, I feel like I'm ready if I get the call-up.
"I'm very confident, so much more confident than when I was out on the field before. It put me in good stead. My biggest thing is just training hard and what comes about, comes about."
The 27-year-old is still absorbing the nuances of the American game but he hosed down the suggestion he was given too much too soon by the 49ers.
"I felt like I was 18 again, when I made my NRL debut," he said. "It was [a case of] getting the flow of it and getting used to it. When I was 18 and playing in the NRL I always thought I was going to get dropped; I wasn't crisp, wasn't perfect that's the pressure I put on myself, and that's exactly how I felt here.
"This time [with the practice squad] has allowed me to focus on the little things. It's taken my head away from preparing for a game to bettering myself.
"It's starting to get to a point now where hopefully I may be getting a call-up, but you just don't know. It's a business over here and you literally have to keep doing your thing and hope to get the call-up.
"The best thing is being on the practice squad means you get a lot more reps. Because you're not playing on a weekend they use you a lot more when the defence is training and you go against our No.1 defence all the time. That's been great for me because I'm the only running back there.
"Over the last couple of weeks a couple of the defensive boys haven't been able to train for the first couple of days in the week so I've jumped in and been able to do a bit of defence as well. Our assistant running back coach said 'yeah, it'd be good for you to be on the field and looking at different things'."
Away from the hurly burly of the 49ers, he has launched Jarryd Hayne Apparel, his sports clothing range that boasts a unique Fijian falcon logo that incorporates his initials. Hayne described the range, which is being sold online, as the realisation of a long-held dream.
"It's the Fijian falcon," he said of the symbol. "It's the fastest bird in the world ... my mate who has been helping me came across it and it's worked perfectly because it's an animal from Fiji, it represents part of my heritage."
While Hayne has already achieved far more on and off the NFL's big stage than many of his critics thought possible when he left Parramatta, he isn't satisfied.
"I haven't been able to feel comfortable yet," he said. "I'll feel comfortable when I get my next opportunity. I'll go out there and I'll feel ready. I'll be comfortable, that's the key for me and that's why I feel ready.
"They really haven't seen what I'm capable of . . . they've seen my talent but they haven't seen what I do when I feel comfortable.
"Everyone knows [what players] can do when they're in the zone, and I haven't been in the zone yet, so I'm excited for when I get that opportunity."
Hayne has used an observation the New York Giants' safety Craig Dahl made after he saw the former NRL superstar come a few yards within scoring a touchdown in the Big Apple as a source of motivation during his fightback.
"I saw him after the game and we had a chat," Hayne said. "He said every time I went in they were worried because they didn't know how to defend against me because no one had really seen me play before.
"They didn't know what scheme to use against me. I had an eight-yard run that got so close to the goal line and had another run that got pulled up short, but it was encouraging to hear from an opposing team's player that they didn't know what to expect [from me] . . . and to come close to getting a touchdown gave me confidence."
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