Fantasy Football: Our NFL team made up entirely of NRL players

WE are not expecting any players to follow in Jarryd Hayne’s footsteps but it hasn’t stopped us from throwing together an NFL team made up entirely of NRL players.

JARRYD Hayne’s decision to quit the NRL to try his luck earning a start in the NFL has created all sorts of debate and discussion about his chances of success.

While we are not expecting any players to follow in his footsteps it did get us wondering if any other players were cut out to play the game of American football.

So out of nothing more than deciding it would be a fun exercise we have put together an American football team made up entirely of NRL players.

We are not suggesting these players would make it in the NFL, we have just identified who was best suited to slot into each position if they were to play a scratch match tomorrow.

Tell us which players you would have in your team in the COMMENTS section below.

QUARTERBACK — JONATHAN THURSTON (NQ COWBOYS)

Johnathan Thurston has the skills similar to that of Peyton Manning.

Close to the No.1 player in the game with the best hands and vision. A natural to fill the playmaker’s role.

RUNNING BACK — KONRAD HURRELL (NZ WARRIORS)

Konrad Hurrell’s running game is like that of Arian Foster’s.

The RB needs to run hard and also block on occasions. Always has to be ready to take the next hit-up. Hurrell fits the mould perfectly.

WIDE RECEIVER — GREG INGLIS (SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS)

Jordy Nelson and Greg Inglis race away.

The athletic superstar with great hands, vision, speed and the ability to take the ball in a crowd.

WIDE RECEIVER — DANIEL TUPOU (SYDNEY ROOSTERS)

Mike Wallace and Daniel Tupou show what they can do with the ball.

Has one of the best leaps in the game and coupled with his speed makes him the perfect foil for Inglis.

SLOT WIDE RECEIVER — ANTHONY MILFORD (BRISBANE BRONCOS)

Percy Harvin finds some space, something Anthony Milford knows all about.

Needs pace, hands and ability to find space and make big plays. Step right up rising star Anthony Milford.

TIGHT END — TARIQ SIMS (NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS)

Big men Tariq Sims and Rob Gronkowski.

Needs to have the size and strength to block but hands to catch and score.

RIGHT GUARD — AARON WOODS (WESTS TIGERS)

Aaron Woods and Louis Vasquez have size and power.

One of the main men called on to protect the quarterback and hold the line.

CENTRE — GEORGE ROSE (MELBOURNE STORM)

George Rose and Dominic Raiola are both big boys.

Big, heavy guy who snaps the ball to the quarterback and has safe hands. It’s a role Gorgeous George would handle with aplomb.

LEFT GUARD — DANE TILSE (CANBERRA RAIDERS)

Marshal Yanda and Dane Tilse are workers.

Big and tough, he is the brute strength required to set up the play.

LEFT TACKLE — JAMES TAMOU (NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS)

The body guard of the team — Joe Thomas and James Tamou.

Man mountain who’s role in preventing the quarterback from getting sacked is crucial.

RIGHT TACKLE — ANDREW FIFITA (CRONULLA SHARKS)

Dear Dostson and Andrew Fifita are similar in size and ability.

Strong, fast and mobile, he is well suited to protecting the quarterback. If he doesn’t perform neither does his quarterback.

DEFENSIVE END — DAVE TAYLOR (GOLD COAST TITANS)

JJ Watt and Dave Taylor have aggression.

This position requires big, hungry blokes who have one thing on their mind — “get the quarterback.”

DEFENSIVE END — GEORGE BURGESS (SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS)

Jared Allen and George Burgess know how to use their size.

Burgess has the size and speed required for the role. His height in particular would be instrumental in helping to bat down quarterback passes.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE (3T) — JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES (SYDNEY ROOSTERS)

Robert Quinn and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves are machines.

Big, strong and smart his role is to shut down the gaps and stop the offence from executing their plays.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE — SAM KASIANO (CANTERBURY BULLDOGS)

Sam Kasiano and Calais Campbell know how to use their size.

Same as Waerea-Hargreaves, needs to get in the way and prevent the offence from dictating terms.

MIDDLE LINEBACKER — RYAN HOFFMAN (NZ WARRIORS)

Luke Kuechly and Ryan Hoffman are intelligent players.

Chief organiser of the defence and needs to shut down plays if the quarterback gets a pass away. Also needs to be able to tackle hard.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER — MANU MA’U (PARRAMATTA EELS)

Robert Mathis and Manu Ma’u are powerful men.

Need to have the pace and defensive technique to shut down a running back if he breaks through the initial line of defence.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER — JAMAL IDRIS (PENRITH PANTHERS)

Jamal Idris and Lavonte David have both size and strength.

Idris knows how to hit hard and would relish making the big play.

FREE SAFETY — BILLY SLATER (MELBOURNE STORM)

Eric Weddle and Billy Slater can change direction on a dime.

Pace, vision and agility to know where the play is going and how to shut it down.

STRONG SAFETY — STEVE MATAI (MANLY SEA-EAGLES)

Steve Matai and Adrian Wilson are vicious and alert.

Hard, mean and fast and has the ball skills to take an intercept if required.

RIGHT CORNERBACK — JOSH MORRIS (CANTERBURY BULLDOGS)

Joe Haden and Josh Morris are magician’s with the ball.

Need to be extremely fit and able to run all directions at pace with excellent ball skills.

LEFT CORNERBACK — BRETT STEWART (MANLY SEA-EAGLES)

Aqib Talib and Brett Stewart are always alert.

Has the ability to tackle, make interceptions and has the pure speed to bring it back.

PUNT RETURN — JOSH DUGAN (ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS)

Sarren Sproles and Josh Dugan know how to weave their way around the defence.

Can take a catch and identify a route through traffic. Plus he has the strength to bump off defenders if needed.

KICKER — ADAM REYNOLDS (SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS)

Adam Vinateri and Adam Reynolds are sharp shooters.

One of the most accurate kickers Reynolds also knows how to handle the pressure under heat.

PUNTER — PAT RICHARDS (WESTS TIGERS)

Not many can kick a ball better than Johnny Hekker and Pat Richards.

All about hang time and accuracy. Richards knows how to kick a ball.

Originally published as Fantasy Football: Our NFL team made up entirely of NRL players