NRL unlikely to splash war chest on luring Jarryd Hayne back to the game

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg will not be tempted to use its much-hyped war chest to lure Jarryd Hayne — or any other player — to rugby league.

THE NRL will not be tempted to use its much-hyped war chest to lure Jarryd Hayne back to rugby league — and new CEO Todd Greenberg is unlikely to ever access the additional funds for marquee players.

Two years after the Australian Rugby League Commission approved funding for the NRL to retain and recruit some of the biggest superstars in the game, not one player has been financially wooed.

Hayne is one of the most marketable sportsmen in Australia whose return to rugby league would provide millions of dollars worth of benefits off the field. He proved an instant hit in the tough US sporting market after he broke into the San Francisco 49ers’ NFL squad.

But The Daily Telegraph understands Greenberg has zero interest in turning to the game’s war chest for Hayne.

His predecessor, Dave Smith, also failed to use it.

While Greenberg still has access to the war chest, it’s understood he’s more than happy to leave it to the clubs to fight it out for what would become rugby league’s hottest signature.

A club would need to rely heavily on third-party agreements to snap up Hayne, which would put a powerhouse organisation like the Sydney Roosters in the box seat. Roosters boss John Lee was not commenting on the Hayne link for 2017.

One of the big reasons that led to rugby league’s war chest being created in the first place was Israel Folau, who ditched a possible return to rugby league for rugby union.

But given Hayne’s love for rugby league — and the fact the NRL looms as his most likely future option — there was no sense of urgency from NRL HQ to feel the need to step in financially.

Greg Inglis, one player who has a similar standing in the game like Hayne, said if the war chest was available, it was time the powers-that-be start using it.

“I don’t know what goes on behind closed doors at the NRL, but if they do have something like (a war chest), I think it’s probably time you start opening it up,’’ Inglis said.

“The NRL is about showcasing the best players and best talent in the world. I’d love to see Hayne here and Sonny, and other players we’ve lost to the game.

Folau would be a prime contender for the war chest. So, too, Williams, who is also pursuing his Olympic dream with the New Zealand sevens side.

Greenberg baulked at using the war chest to make sure Sam Burgess returned to the game late last year, but said at the time it was still an option that was available.

“It gives flexibility for the game if it would like to use it,” Greenberg said. “It may be used once in a generation but it is there.

The flexibility was given for the game to spend those funds but it wasn’t required in regard to Sam Burgess. The negotiations for Sam to come back were an issue for the club not for the game.”

Inglis did not expect Hayne to take long to adapt to rugby league if he returned, despite missing all of last season as he pursued his NFL dream.

“It took Sammy (Burgess) a while, and he was only out 18 months,’’ Inglis said. “But if you play rugby league the majority of your life, you don’t lose it too much.

“He (Hayne) is one of those naturally-gifted athletes who are hard to come by. He went over there (to the US), a lot of people doubted him in the NFL now he's trying his hand at union and the sevens, and I wish him the best of luck.

“Fingers crossed one day we see him back here in the NRL.’’

Originally published as NRL unlikely to splash war chest on luring Jarryd Hayne back to the game