http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...e/news-story/6898f0e70b244a8eaacf8750701910d5
Super Rugby: Waratahs interested, but cannot afford Jarryd Hayne
The Waratahs are curious, but noncommittal about code-hopper Jarryd Hayne.
Hayne met with ARU chief executive Bill Pulver in Sydney on Wednesday and it is understood they discussed the possibility of him playing for NSW in Super Rugby.
While Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has expressed an interest in Hayne, NSW are yet to make contact.
“We haven’t met with him or his manager,” Waratahs chairman Roger Davis said. “That’s probably the best way of describing where we are. Whether we will, who knows? He is a bit mercurial.
“I think we are curious. We see the plusses, we see the minuses. Curious, but noncommitted is what I would say at this stage.
“There’s a lot more work that needs to be done before this comes to fruition. His manager has expressed no interest in meeting with us. We are quite happy to let this bubble along and see where it leads.”
It is believed Hayne is looking at cobbling together a $1 million- plus a year deal with the ARU, Waratahs, a Japanese club and third-party endorsements.
The ARU has previously ruled out topping up a Super Rugby contract for Hayne because he is ineligible for the Wallabies after playing for Fiji at the London sevens. But Davis said the ARU would have to contribute to the deal to come up with the money that Hayne is seeking.
“I think Bill is a fan, but he (Hayne) can’t play for Bill,” Davis said. “It’s very much the Super Rugby sides that will be making the call and for financial reasons Bill will have to write a cheque if it was to go anywhere.
“The local sides are all at their salary cap level and don’t have any money. They are talking about a million bucks plus. We don’t have that money. None of the Super sides do. All of the Super sides are up against their salary cap.
“Top-ups from the ARU and third-party money is nowhere near his perceived ask.”
Davis said he was unaware of the meeting between Pulver and Hayne. “I wasn’t aware that Bill had met him, which is interesting given he can’t play for Australia,” Davis said. “It would be nice if Bill gave me a ring.”
There is an argument that signing Hayne would be a good marketing investment for the ARU to help promote the game in Australia’s largest commercial market, even if he could not play for the Wallabies, but Davis was not entirely convinced.
“Maybe. Prodigious talent. Athletically superb. Whether he would have any draw I don’t know. Of course, it’s not $50. It’s a lot of money,” Davis said.
“You would have to be very sure of your amounts to ensure the investment generated an appropriate return.
“He is not 26 years old. He is approaching 30. There’s all sorts of issues. How long is it going to take him to adjust. Been out of sight for a couple of years. There’s arguments both ways.
“They like him as an athlete, but whether he has the temperament, the passion, the commitment, relevant skill base.
“It’s going to be a very complicated process because you are going to have multiple parties involved.”
