Fans say same thing about Jarryd Hayne’s rugby league comeback

Jarryd Hayne made his rugby league comeback over the weekend, and his cameo left fans saying the same thing about the ex-NRL star.

Jarryd Hayne has reflected on an “enjoyable weekend” of rugby league action as the former NRL star played his first game in more than six years.

Hayne was one of several former NRL players who played in the 2025 Nines Premier League trophy, won by the Dawgs.

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The Dawgs defeated the Salty Pigs 12-8 in a dramatic grand final, which included scuffles and sin bins.

Hayne was playing for United SC alongside former NRL stars Andrew Fifita, David Fifita and another former Dally M medallist, Ben Barba.

Jarryd Hayne played in the Nines Premier League over the weekend. Photo: Facebook.

Jarryd Hayne at the Nines Premier Rugby League event on the Gold Coast. Picture: Richard Walker

It looked like his rugby league comeback might be hampered by a hamstring injury when he pulled up lame and limped to the sideline after hitting the ball at pace and making a carry during a game.

The 36-year-old wasn’t quite in the same form fans recall from the ‘Hayne Plane’ glory years of 2009.

One fan wrote on TikTok: “The Hayne Jumbo plane with a Hammy sprain.”

A second person joked “damn, the hayne bus” and another described him as the “Airbus 8380”.

But Hayne overcame the hamstring niggle to return to the field for United SC’s quarter-final, making a handful of carries as they progressed with a 16-10 win over Reborn

The semi-final didn’t go Hayne’s way with Southside Dawgs triumphing 13-4.

United SC scored the first points, before the Dawgs hit back with a bonus point try before another effort from 50 metres out secured the win.

Jarryd Hayne at Nines Premier Rugby League event. Picture: Richard Walker

He was in good spirits on the sidelines. Picture: Richard Walker

The loss didn’t dampen the former San Francisco running back’s spirits.

He was seen with a big smile posing for photos with former players, including Greg Bird and the Fifita brothers.

“Enjoyable weekend! Appreciated reconnecting with former teammates for camaraderie and good-natured banter,” Hayne wrote on Facebook.

“Thank you to the united crew for hosting me. 6 years out of the game and immediately making 3 tackles consecutively!! I don’t recall achieving that feat throughout my entire career!!!”

Hayne had been linked with an unlikely return to the NRL, potentially beginning with Eels feeder club the Wenty Magpies.

Hayne was once the NRL’s top player, with his 2009 season largely regarded as one of the greatest individual years from a player in history.

At Parramatta, he won the Dally M Medal for the second time in 2014 before walking out of the game just weeks later to try to make it big in the NFL.

Hayne played eight games for the San Francisco 49ers in 2015 before returning to Australia and signing with the Gold Coast Titans late in the 2016 NRL season.

However, that stint was largely unsuccessful and he last took to the field in a competitive match in 2018 at the Gold Coast Nines tournament.

In the seven years since Hayne has faced three court cases and spent two years in prison.

In June last year, Hayne won an appeal against his conviction for sexual assault.

Since then he has kept a low profile but has stated his intention to return to the footy field after being part of the Fiji Bati’s support team in last year’s Pacific Championships rugby league tournament.

Jarryd Hayne with Andrew Fifita. Photo: Facebook.

Hayne with former NRL player Greg Bird (left). Photo: Facebook.

In the Nines final, the Salty Pigs rallied late, scoring a try — which they converted — and pulling off an almighty 40-20 play to set up one final opportunity to level the scores.

A fumble on the wing from the Salty Pigs, however, proved costly, handing the Dawgs the trophy competition title.

Tempers flared in the minutes before the Salty Pigs’ late surge when Ben Marschke, attempting a bold extra point try, was corralled over the dead ball line, sparking a stern response from Dawgs opponents. The two teams then came to blows near the posts, leading to a player from each team — Marschke and Brayden Musgrove — being sent from the field.

“Marschke is blowing up deluxe,” said the Kayo commentator.

— With Foxsports.com.au

Originally published as Fans say same thing about Jarryd Hayne’s rugby league comeback