NFL 2016

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="580296" data-time="1463444132">
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I thought in 2014 he was superior to JT and Inglis. 
Back in 09, when the Eels lost the GF he was on fire but I thought over the next few years his stock increased big time when he became a more rounded player.
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Probably, Inglis has some serious brain farts that sometimes tarnish all the incredible good stuff he does but as a ball runner he's in the Lomu/Cullen league in my opinion.

mariner4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="580306" data-time="1463445371">
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FARKEN QUEENSLANDER MAYYYYYYYYYYTE!
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results speak for themselves frankly

Rancid Schnitzel

What do Fijians think of it? If anything it could be an unwanted distraction and cause disharmony among the team. This is really weird.

mariner4life

What does Semi Radrada think of it?

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="580242" data-time="1463434410">
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Voss was on the radio this morning, he was pretty scathing about the way Hayne has done this given he was supposedly approached in Feb, and then 3 months later decided to chase this dream...gotta feel for the bloke that's been in the squad all along that Hayne is gonna push out, just cos.
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Yeah - fuck Hayne, basically. I hope he doesn't make it.

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="580365" data-time="1463458662">Yeah - fuck Hayne, basically. I hope he doesn't make it.</blockquote>Hayne is a great athlete but there's no guarantee he can just walk into the number one 7s team on the planet, SBW wasn't an instant sensation his first time out

aucklandwarlord

I'd be interested to know whether the people who were pro SBW switching codes all the time are also pro Hayne, or whether they judge Hayne differently for some reason. 
 
If Hayne is successful in making the Fijian squad, he will absolutely push some guy out who has probably been in there a few years. But is it any different to SBW edging Tohu Harris out of the RLWC squad when he suddenly declared himself available at the last minute? Or any of the Super Rugby players who have gone back to sevens given it's Olympic year who will push a fringe player out of the squad?
 
Sport is a dog eat dog world. You're either in the team or you're not. Provided Hayne is picked on merit and not on his ability to draw in fans/sponsors, then surely they're better to have the best player on the team. That said, you'd think the fitness required for 7's rugby is quite different to the fitness required to be a running back in the NFL so I suspect he might find it hard to adjust. 
 
I read an article in one of the papers by a San Fran sports journo who basically thought Hayne was jumping before he was pushed. He had assessed him as about 5th string running back, and reckoned only 3 RB's would make the cut. I wonder if Hayne had been given a quiet word that he might not make the cut.
 
Either way, I find it hard to begrudge a guy for leaving a good gig (what was his NRL contract worth) to go and chase a far from certain dream, making the squad and managing to play a handful of games. The only thing I found was a bit weird was that the word "retired" was used to describe him leaving the NFL. I'd imagine "retirement" would be used for guys who have had long careers.

barbarian

I reckon a big factor in the commentary is the fact he's playing for Fiji and not Australia.
 
The bloke isn't Fijian. He's an Aussie. And that's where the comparison to SBW falls down, at least he kept his allegiance to NZ through all of his different ventures.
 
If he was pulling on the green and gold then the story takes a bit of a different turn IMO. And that's why the 'taking someone's spot' thing has come about too, because not only would he take the spot of an actual 7s player, he would also take the spot of an actual Fijian.

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="580424" data-time="1463477158">
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I reckon a big factor in the commentary is the fact he's playing for Fiji and not Australia.
 
The bloke isn't Fijian. He's an Aussie. And that's where the comparison to SBW falls down, at least he kept his allegiance to NZ through all of his different ventures.
 
If he was pulling on the green and gold then the story takes a bit of a different turn IMO. And that's why the 'taking someone's spot' thing has come about too, because not only would he take the spot of an actual 7s player, he would also take the spot of an actual Fijian.
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That's a bit harsh. His father is Fijian and he has played for Fiji's league team.
 
Perhaps Andy Friend should have approached him months ago?

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="aucklandwarlord" data-cid="580423" data-time="1463476767">
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Sport is a dog eat dog world. You're either in the team or you're not. Provided Hayne is picked on merit and not on his ability to draw in fans/sponsors, then surely they're better to have the best player on the team. 
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Are they?
 
It's a bit like the ABs having a no dickheads' policy. If you fuck everyone else in the team off by bringing in a last minute outsider it could easily be counter-productive.
 
I thought Jarrod Hayne having a crack at the NFL was great - that seemed like a real dream. This move strikes me as a bit of glory boy pot-hunting. If it was really your dream Jarrod you would have been there a year ago working for it, rather than just trying to muscle in and trample on someone else's dream.
 
Lacks class.
 
Asshole!

Sneakdefreak

I'm sure the 49ers are happy to see the back of him. Not that he was a bad influence on the team but all those Aussie reporters asking at the coach's press conference "mmaaate, what about the Hayne Plane?" before making airplane whooshing noises. 
 
Now all the 49ers have to worry about is the fact their quarterback doesn't want to play for them. Fark.

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="580431" data-time="1463480095">
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Are they?
 
It's a bit like the ABs having a no dickheads' policy. If you fuck everyone else in the team off by bringing in a last minute outsider it could easily be counter-productive.
 
I thought Jarrod Hayne having a crack at the NFL was great - that seemed like a real dream. This move strikes me as a bit of glory boy pot-hunting. If it was really your dream Jarrod you would have been there a year ago working for it, rather than just trying to muscle in and trample on someone else's dream.
 
Lacks class.
 
Asshole!
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Is it a timing issue? There was plenty of discussion about regular 7s players missing out due to better players coming across from XVs. As I understand it, he had a discussion in Sydney months ago with Ben Ryan, took stock of his future prospects in the NFL and has made himself available. If Ryan still wishes to take him, how is it Hayne's fault? Should he have played in a couple of World Rugby rounds prior to London?

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="580428" data-time="1463479504">
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That's a bit harsh. His father is Fijian and he has played for Fiji's league team.
 
Perhaps Andy Friend should have approached him months ago?
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Perhaps Friend should have approached him months ago OR assumed, like everyone else, that Hayne was set on his dream and left him the fuck alone.
 
They asked him last year, after all:
 
DISCLAIMER - I DO NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THE TONE OF THIS ARTICLE.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.news.com.au/sport/american-sports/jarryd-hayne-switch-will-have-a-disappointing-outcome-for-fiji-teammate/news-story/d9aa1b0a5557b49bc4fc8cd16c03addc'>http://www.news.com.au/sport/american-sports/jarryd-hayne-switch-will-have-a-disappointing-outcome-for-fiji-teammate/news-story/d9aa1b0a5557b49bc4fc8cd16c03addc</a>
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote"> When asked why he hadnâ€™t opted to trial for the Aussie squad, he simply replied:
 
â€œBecause they didnâ€™t ask me.â€
 
On the contrary, they did.
 
Speculation around Hayneâ€™s potential to play sevens has been rife since late 2014 when the former Parramatta Eel announced his intention to play in the NFL.
 
At the time, former Australian Sevens coach Geraint John left an open invitation to Hayne in case his NFL dream didnâ€™t work out â€” and he couldnâ€™t have expressed more interest in the Hayne Plane if he tried.
 
â€œIf he doesnâ€™t make it in NFL, his next port of call should be Narrabeen (the Australian sevens headquarters),â€ John told the Daily Telegraph.
 
â€œIf you want another new challenge, come to sevens and try the Olympic challenge. Itâ€™s right on your doorstep.â€
 
John went on to praise Hayneâ€™s decision to move to the United States and tried to sell the Sevens opportunity even harder.
 
â€œHeâ€™s getting out of that comfort zone, I thought it was an excellent comment that he made,â€ John said.
 
â€œHe is going over there to give it a go and good on him. He has put his reputation on the line there, heâ€™s going to a different sport and try it out. It wonâ€™t be easy, and he knows that.
 
â€œBut let me say this: if people want a challenge, rugby sevens fits the bill. It is an incredibly challenging sport, and you travel to nine or 10 parts of the world, play in 40-50,000 seat stadiums, it is played worldwide, and it is played in the Olympics.
 
â€œThere are not many football sports that can get you to the Olympics. Rugby 15s canâ€™t get you there, rugby league canâ€™t get you there, AFL canâ€™t get you there.
 
â€œBut rugby sevens is in the Olympics, and if elite athletes like Jarryd want new challenges, weâ€™d be happy to have them along.â€
 
John seemed to think Hayne would fit in perfectly with the Aussie set-up, and would have potentially been in line for the Rio squad in the green and gold.
 
â€œThere is a lot of space for guys who can beat people like that, who can attract defenders and beat defenders,â€ he said.
â€œIf you look at a player of (Hayneâ€™s) calibre, what he can actually bring: he has that x-factor and the skills are easily transferable. A rugby league player would find it a lot easier to move into sevens than 15s. Itâ€™s a totally unique game.â€
 
If thatâ€™s not an offer to play sevens for Australia, there will never be one clear enough to get Hayne over the line.
 
Granted John is no longer involved in the Australian set-up, having left mid-2015. However, with such an exciting pedigree on offer, thereâ€™s no doubt new coach Andy Friend would have been just a little intrigued.
 
He simply chose Fiji over Australia.
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Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="580433" data-time="1463480650">
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Is it a timing issue? There was plenty of discussion about regular 7s players missing out due to better players coming across from XVs. As I understand it, he had a discussion in Sydney months ago with Ben Ryan, took stock of his future prospects in the NFL and has made himself available. If Ryan still wishes to take him, how is it Hayne's fault? Should he have played in a couple of World Rugby rounds prior to London?
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How is it Haynes' fault? Don't make yourself available at the last minute. Don't behave like an asshole.
 
Come in for one tournament - snatch someone else's place - have your shot at gold and fuck off again.
 
Fiji coach is also behaving like an arse - showing zero loyalty to his players.

aucklandwarlord

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="580431" data-time="1463480095">
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Are they?
 
It's a bit like the ABs having a no dickheads' policy. If you fuck everyone else in the team off by bringing in a last minute outsider it could easily be counter-productive.
 
I thought Jarrod Hayne having a crack at the NFL was great - that seemed like a real dream. This move strikes me as a bit of glory boy pot-hunting. If it was really your dream Jarrod you would have been there a year ago working for it, rather than just trying to muscle in and trample on someone else's dream.
 
Lacks class.
 
Asshole!
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Wow, not getting on board the Hayne Plane any time soon then?
 
Muscling in last minute is all a matter of perspective though. Have Messam etc all muscled in last minute on the dreams of some of the fringe 7's players? Sure, they've played most of the season with the 7's team, but they have been absent the last few years. SBW essentially "muscled in" on Tohu Harris' spot at the 2013 RLWC at the last minute after he had said he was unavailable. 
 
I agree with Barbarian that playing for Fiji is a little bit weird, but then again, he has played for them in League test matches before and he has a genuine heritage link to the country through his father. Look at how many guys in the Japanese rugby team looked to have no discernible link to Japan other than having played pro rugby there for a few years. 
 
I place Hayne in the same category as SBW in terms of code-hopping and think it's entirely his choice as to what he does. If Fiji don't want him, they can always say so. I'm sure the team wouldn't be shy in coming forward to tell the coaches and management that, if they really thought he'd be disruptive.

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="580435" data-time="1463481264">
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How is it Haynes' fault? Don't make yourself available at the last minute. Don't behave like an asshole.
 
Come in for one tournament - snatch someone else's place - have your shot at gold and fuck off again.
 
Fiji coach is also behaving like an arse - showing zero loyalty to his players. 
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So it is a timing issue? He should have played in Paris too?
 
From Ben Ryan's perspective it's his job to deliver a gold medal for Fiji, not an employment scheme for those who stood in line first.
 
Is it shit for the person that doesn't make it? Yes.

barbarian

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="580428" data-time="1463479504">
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That's a bit harsh. His father is Fijian and he has played for Fiji's league team.
 
Perhaps Andy Friend should have approached him months ago?
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He only played for Fiji because he missed selection in the Aussie team. He may have Fijian heritage, and that's great.
 
But is he Fijian? I don't think so. And I think that is a part of the uneasiness that people have approached this story with.

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="580438" data-time="1463481961">
From Ben Ryan's perspective it's his job to deliver a gold medal for Fiji, not an employment scheme for those who stood in line first. </blockquote>
Whilst I tend to agree with Chris B this is the bit I really don't get. 
I fail to see what he offers Fiji 7s. A player who has never played the game, has put next to zero effort into learning the game, has been actively training to be fit in a way that is completely opposite to how he needs to be for the game just does not seem to be a good outcome for a team setting themselves for a gold medal. 
The cynic in me thinks that there is a dagree of convenience for both sides here. That he isn't seriously in the plans of Fiji, and Fiji aren't seriously in the plans or Hayne. Fiji get some publicity and maybe some cash from Hayne's sponsors. Hayne gets a seemingly viable reason for leaving NFL. 
I expect either a convenient injury or future mutual agreement that he couldn't make that transition in time. 
I look at the Fiji 7s players and do wonder what he supposedly brings that they don't have already in spades.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="aucklandwarlord" data-cid="580437" data-time="1463481702">
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Wow, not getting on board the Hayne Plane any time soon then?
 
Muscling in last minute is all a matter of perspective though. Have Messam etc all muscled in last minute on the dreams of some of the fringe 7's players? Sure, they've played most of the season with the 7's team, but they have been absent the last few years. SBW essentially "muscled in" on Tohu Harris' spot at the 2013 RLWC at the last minute after he had said he was unavailable. 
 
I place Hayne in the same category as SBW in terms of code-hopping and think it's entirely his choice as to what he does. If Fiji don't want him, they can always say so. I'm sure the team wouldn't be shy in coming forward to tell the coaches and management that, if they really thought he'd be disruptive. 
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Yes - Sonny Bill made a c#nt of himself over the RLWC (IMO, of course) - not for the first time. :)
 
Yes - it is entirely his choice what he does.
 
It is entirely my choice how I regard his choices. I'm not a Sonny Bill fan.
 
It is great to win, but sometimes behaving with a bit of class is better than winning.
 
Actually I recall having a similar discussion (mainly with TR, I think) when Rob Waddell tried to muscle in on the Olympic single sculls boat Mahe Drysdale had qualified while Rob was fucking around being an America's Cup sailor. I was delighted that Mahe won the shootout - albeit when Rob found he had a dodgy heart. 
 
Antipodean - he should have committed months ago - not when he suddenly found then writing on the wall at the 49ers.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="580441" data-time="1463482956">
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He only played for Fiji because he missed selection in the Aussie team. He may have Fijian heritage, and that's great.
 
But is he Fijian? I don't think so. And I think that is a part of the uneasiness that people have approached this story with.
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And to extrapolate - what odds is Australia paying to win the gold medal? - and did the Aussie coach shut the door on his late entry?

The Silver Fern

NFL 2016