Jarryd Hayne considers switch to AFL
* Jessica Halloran
* From: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
* January 30, 2011 12:01AM
JARRYD Hayne's heart has been with the Parramatta club since he started playing for them when he was 12.
But beyond the expiration of his Eels contract in 2013, Hayne is toying with taking up Australian rules football.
During his contract negotiations with the Eels a year ago, Hayne's interest in the AFL was seen as bargaining tool, but the star fullback has opened up for the first time about his desire to play the code.
The Australian and Origin representative said that if he had achieved everything in rugby league within the next three seasons, he would consider the switch.
However, he will first carefully watch how Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau's pursuit of an AFL career plays out.
"It's something I've obviously thought about too you know," Hayne said. "I'm not blind to the situation.
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"I will have to see how they go, what happens with them, how I am feeling, what I want to do, it's all about how I feel at the time.
"If I feel satisfied with what I've done in league, I'll have to be the judge then.
"At the moment my full focus is on Parramatta and my contract until 2013."
The 22-year-old has also spoken on how NRL players are at the bottom of the code's food chain, how Christianity is keeping him "together" and how he handles criticism.
Last June, headlines in Sydney screamed "Blame Hayne" after the Eels' 10-6 loss to the Broncos at Parramatta Stadium.
Then Eels coach Daniel Anderson singled out the star as a poor performer in that press conference. After the game Anderson said: "I think our fullback is learning. He wasn't good tonight in my opinion. Not many people will say it but he was off his game.
"I think he would have been frustrated at some of the decisions he made."
Hayne said he was never ruffled even when there was a critical storm unfolding around him.
Did that "Blame Hayne" time affect you?
"No."
Hayne likes the saying by Texan Bishop T.D Jakes and re-tweeted it recently: "Don't let the comments from your critics distract you from your goal. Some people play the game and others watch! Go ahead!"
He elaborated on the fallout, saying again despite all the words and headlines - he was not worried at all.
"It was not really much for me you know," Hayne said.
"At the end of the day, you have to remember why you are playing rugby league. As some players get older they tend to forget why they do it - they think about the money, the media, the pressure and impressing people rather than having fun.
"I am all about having fun."
Over the summer Hayne has been recovering from a hamstring tear he sustained in Kangaroos training last October. The injury forced him out of the Four Nations, but he now dubs the break a "blessing in disguise".
"It really just stopped me in my tracks and it gave my legs and body a chance to freshen up I suppose."
Off the field Hayne feels his life is improving with his new-found faith. He said his pastors were like his "life coaches" and keeping him on track.
"Footy is the only thing I am smart in," Hayne said. "I'm pretty dumb off the field.
"Because I put so much focus on footy it's hard to have a focus on what you want off out of footy. I get focused on getting my body in shape, being fit, being fast, my skills; so much energy goes into my footy you can get sort of sidetracked."
we all know you are a great person and you always strive to be the best person you can be!
