Jarryd Hayne NFL: Decision to quit NRL without winning premiership baffles Cameron Smith
- The Courier-Mail
- November 14, 2014
AUSTRALIA skipper Cameron Smith says he was baffled by Jarryd Hayne’s decision to quit the NRL without knowing the joy of winning a premiership.
Smith and Hayne share a special symmetry to their careers. It was in Wellington, the scene of Saturday night’s Four Nations final, that the duo starred in a 58-0 drubbing in 2007, sealing Australia’s biggest win in trans-Tasman history.
ROOS BRACE FOR KIWIS FORWARD ONSLAUGHT
Filling in for injured skipper Darren Lockyer, Smith showed his first glimpse of leadership potential, while Hayne celebrated his Test debut with a try in the hatchet job on the Kiwis.
On Saturday night, when Smith again runs out as Australia’s skipper, Hayne will be 10,000km away in Los Angeles, chasing a dream he hopes will end with an NFL contract.
Hayne stunned the Kangaroos last month by quitting Four Nations duty to embark on his American odyssey. And while Smith hopes Hayne soars great heights in gridiron, he expressed surprise at the NSW Origin star’s claim that he had ticked every box in rugby league.
“Each individual has different motives on why they want to change or a different challenge,” Smith said in an interview with Channel Nine in the lead-up to the Four Nations decider.
“Jarryd Hayne said going to the NFL is a bigger challenge than anything he will ever have in Australia.
“He said he’s accomplished everything he can in rugby league. Well, he hasn’t won a premiership. He doesn’t know what that feels like, so that was a bit strange for me, but I don’t have the opportunity Jarryd has to play another sport.”
Smith has won three titles at Melbourne but the closest Hayne came to a premiership ring was in 2009 when the Eels lost the grand final 23-16 to a rampant Storm team captained by Smith.
Cameron Smith wishes Jarryd Hayne all the best in gridiron. Pic: Mark EvansSource: News Corp Australia
Australian coach Tim Sheens gave Hayne his Test debut in Wellington seven years ago, but is confident the Kangaroos and the code can overcome his departure.
“Jarryd was a very good player for us,” he said.
“My only thought is it was an itch he had to scratch and he’s done that. I wish him the best. What happens to Jarryd happens, we have to move on in our game and I’m trying to fill the hole that Jarryd has left.
“In 2007, Jarryd debuted here in Wellington on the left wing. He moved on to be a superstar and today’s next generation will do the same thing.
“The game historically has replaced our superstars, from Peter Sterling to John Raper’s era to you name it. We thought we’d never replace Joey Johns, then a young skinny kid called Johnathan Thurston came along.’’
