Why is so much coverage given to Australian Jarryd Hayne when transferred / plays American gridiron and yet so many other Australians who are playing at the highest level of the world game in Europe never get a mention let alone acknowledgment. Is it because Hayne played Rugby League or now plays the American game, or it's because the others play soccer?

Because some journo has a hard-on for him.

Makes me sick. He wasn't even playing and there were hourly updates.

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Is this a legitimate question?

It's clearly because he was an elite player in one sport, crossing over in his prime to be an elite player in another sport. It's virtually unheard of.

If you had an Australian rugby/aussie rules/league/cricketer go and play football in the EPL or La Liga at the age of 28, it would be massive news.

It's because Hayne is a bigger name than any Australian footballer not named Tim Cahill.

Haha surely this is a joke?

I don't think you can blame us non NSW/QLD folk :lol:

Not sure if serious. The bloke can't even make the bench ffs :lol:

Plenty of Aussie rules players have gone on to be punters in the NFL. Big deal.

Key word "plenty". AFL players do make the news when they head over there, but because they are typically not superstar AFL players heading over there to do something they have done their entire lives in kicking a ball really, really far, they are obviously not going to make constant news headlines. Hayne was the best player in the world, heading over to a sport in a role completely different to his NRL role. Not to mention he is the first known name in the NRL to head over there

Squaddies arent and dont deserve to be news

I dislike league with a passion, and you are correct, they are driving that story for all the mileage they can get and with the exception of two catches and a 38 yard(from Memory) run with the ball, he has done nothing short of fail.

I wish they would stop printing nothing stories about him during the off season. But it is none the less a good story - especially if he gets real game time.

He had the role of a punt returner and running back, the later a very important and high profile role in an American football team. He also had to learn a lot of the team tactic books ... whereas punters don't need to concern themselves with that element of the game.

Hayne also gave up a million dollar contract to try the sport. He had no guarantees from any team, and for over 6 months had no wage and then only got a wage less than a tenth of what he was on in Australia. Can you imagine Fyfe or Ablett (of say 3 to 4 years ago) giving up their AFL careers to chase a career in a sport completely foreign to them?

Although people don't like him, Why'll in his prime Anthony Mundine crossed over from NRL to Boxing and did quiet well for himself with Hugh coverage mainly for the wrong reasons.

Edited by nomates: 10/2/2016 06:29:05 PM

I have no idea who Fyfe or Ablett is. In any case, the point stands. Hayne can't get a match. That's hardly elite.

You obviously don't know your NFL - the previous players who have gone over have generally been punters. Which is basically not a tactical role. You just have to kick the ball consistently at speed.

Jarrod Hayne's role is a very important one within NFL, and requires knowledge of the nuances of tactics etc.

The fact he has made the squad list and actually played game time is nothing short of amazing. It is a huge achievement.

Have a look on Youtube of the talking heads on ESPN when Hayne first went over basically laughing, and see how they changed their tune.

Haynes biggest impediment is the team that he is in.

Saying that a guy, any guy, making an NFL squad is "hardly elite" is at best churlish, if not ignorant in the extreme.

It would be the same as a 27-28 year old NRL or AFL player going to play in the EPL or La Liga with no history of playing the sport at all.