Jarryd Hayne NFL: San Francisco 49ers coach coy on starting line-up

SAN FRANCISCO coach Jim Tomsula has “all the confidence” in Jarryd Hayne taking punts in the NFL season opener — but questions remain over starting line-up.

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SAN FRANCISCO coach Jim Tomsula has “all the confidence” in Jarryd Hayne taking punts in the NFL season opener, but again stopped short of saying he will.

While much of Australia wants to know if Hayne will suit up against Minnesota Vikings in Monday Night Football, coach Tomsula would only say that, yes, the reigning Dally M medallist is ready.

Asked how much confidence he had in Hayne fielding punts, Tomsula replied: “All the confidence.

“I’m very, very confident in his ability to field a punt.”

Yet just as quickly, the coach warned his Sydney rookie would also need to do more than catch footballs to cement a place on special teams.

The coach also admitted that, despite the undeniable hype Down Under, he would continue to “temper” Haynemania.

“I guess that’s my temperament,’’ Tomsula said. “I don't want to be the guy downplaying Jarryd’s accomplishments or the excitement for the country.

“But it’s in a place.

“He’s done a good job. From where he was to where he is, it’s terrific.

“So I don’t want to take anything away from what Jarryd has achieved. But all he’s achieved is an opportunity to be in the locker room.

“So (the learning) has to continue. And Jarryd is the kind of guy who will do that.

“You feel confident he’ll continue to ascend with his approach and the way that he does things.”

But as for playing right now?

“Again you start talking about the 46,’’ Tomsula continued. “How much can you do? What can you do for the team?

“Then with the schematics we’re going through, you know, how are you practising within that scheme. The things that we’re doing this week, do they fit you skills set.

“Okay, you can catch a punt. But can you do other things? What else can you do?”

Asked what he wanted to see out of Hayne this week at training, Tomsula continued: “You’re in game preparation now, so you’ve got that aspect of it.

“But just like every first year player here ... we’ve also got to stay on the development side of things. So the techniques, the fundamentals, the developing, that has to stay on course.

“Stay on point.

“The first year we’ve got to stay on all the rookie players. That’s the line we need to balance there: ‘How much do you give them? When is it time?’.

“Obviously Jarryd has got the body position, the balance, the leverage points, it’s proven he has those. But now it’s how to use them. When to use them.”

Originally published as Jarryd Hayne NFL: San Francisco 49ers coach coy on starting line-up