Inside Sport

Making news


https://forum.insidesport.com.au/Topic2310277.aspx

By Atlas - 10 Feb 2016 4:27 PM

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?
By AzzaMarch - 11 Feb 2016 11:35 AM

Draupnir wrote:
sokorny wrote:
Draupnir wrote:
AzzaMarch wrote:
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.


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.


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?


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.