Jarryd Hayne NFL: San Francisco 49ers GM Trent Baalke breaks down pros and cons of NRL star

THE man who hires and fires at the 49ers has spoken glowingly about the skills of NFL recruit Jarryd Hayne - while also laying down his concerns.

JARRYD Hayne’s skills are akin to those of an athlete who has played American football all his life, according to 49ers general manager Trent Baalke.

While acknowledging that Hayne had plenty of work ahead of him, Baalke spoke optimistically of the strides the former Parramatta Eels fullback had taken in his short time in the US.

“Jarryd, you know, we’ll see. That’s going to be a work in progress. But as an athlete, very talented,” Baalke told the San Jose Mercury News.

“All you have to do is pull up the YouTube videos and watch some of the stuff he does athletically. Now, can he go on a NFL field and learn the pass protections? He can catch a football as well as most people we’ve seen do it their whole lives, because that’s the game over there. He can field punts extremely well. He can certainly field kickoffs. And he can run down and cover people on the coverage teams.”

THE INSPIRATION BEHIND HAYNE’S NFL JERSEY NUMBER

Jarryd Hayne works out for the 49ers alongside superstar quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Baalke reserved judgement on whether Hayne would be able to secure a place on the 49ers 53-man roster.

“How quickly he can transfer those physical skills into the game of football, we’re going to find out,” he said.

Jarryd Hayne’s athleticism has made a huge impression at the 49ers.

Baalke is the latest member of the 49ers franchise to speak glowingly of Hayne since he was signed as an undrafted free agent in March.

Here is a look back at how San Francisco’s head coach, running back and quarterback have assessed the Australian’s transition from rugby league to the NFL:

Jarryd Hayne charges clear of the defence while playing for Australia.

Jim Tomsula, 49ers head coach, March 26

“The other thing that gets me too, that excites me, he is ‘the guy’ in Australia. Lawrence (Okoye) was ‘the guy’ in England. You were all huddled around a table to talk to them.

“They were the best at what they were doing and in both situations they walk away from that to start something new, to start at the bottom. That hits me. That’s something different about who you are and your make up.

“There’s a lot of courage involved right there - or you’re flat nuts. Either way, that could work for us, right?

“He’s playing a position that’s not like anything else he’s done. Everything is completely brand new. That’s a hard transition.

“When you get to a guy playing rugby and his skillset is as a running back - that’s where we’ll start him, I’m not going to tell you that’s where he’ll end - you’ve got a guy who’s used to being down field catching a ball with people running at him.

“You’ve got a guy who’s used to making tackles in open spaces. You’ve got a guy who’s used to catching the ball, carrying the ball, being in open space and avoiding. Obviously with the explosive qualities that he has, you can’t help but be excited.”

Jarryd Hayne powers through a 49ers pre-season training drill.

Reggie Bush, 49ers running back, April 9

“I’m sure he’ll make it, I don’t think there’s any doubt in anybody’s mind he’ll make the roster. He has all the talents and athleticism to be able to play in this league and to be able to play at a high level in this league.

“I think making the team is actually the least of his worries.

“I got a chance to meet Jarryd back in Australia and I spoke to him a little bit and we talked about making the change over to making the NFL.

“He has all the athleticism and the talent to be able to make it over in this league so it was just a matter of if he was going to take that chance and he did and now we’re teammates. I’m looking forward to working with him and I think he’s going to be a great addition to the 49ers.

“I think he’s going to bring a lot to the team and enjoy the process and enjoy the transition into the NFL. Everything that he did to be a great player in Australia (he needs to) continue to do here.

“Continue to be the superstar that he is and all the chips will fall into place. He has a good head on his shoulders, he seems like he has a great character and personality, I think he’ll do fine.”

Jarryd Hayne is settling into his task of cracking the NFL. Picture: Nathan Richter

Colin Kaepernick, 49ers quarterback, April 11

“Phenomenal athlete. Just a natural. Since the day I met him, since every workout he’s been at, he’s going to give you everything he has. And it doesn’t seem like there’s going to be much of a learning curve for him.

“This is going to be a football player. He does a lot of things very well and it’s going to be our job to be able to utilise him and put him in position to allow him to make plays and use that athleticism.”

Originally published as Jarryd Hayne NFL: San Francisco 49ers GM Trent Baalke breaks down pros and cons of NRL star