Jarryd Hayne reflects on Dally M victory

THE thought of Jarryd Hayne playing in the NRL now seems that of a distant memory, but for the 49ers rookie, one night keeps the game close to his heart.

Dally M team of the year Jarryd Hayne , Johnathan Thurston , James Segeyaro , Semi Radradra , Sam Burgess , James Graham and Daly Cherry Evans present to the crowd during the Dally M awards ceremony at at the Star Event Centre,Pyrmont.Picture Gregg Porteous

EXACTLY 12 months ago, Jarryd Hayne stood on stage at Sydney’s The Star Casino and was honoured as the best player in the NRL, shared alongside Cowboys veteran Johnathan Thurston.

Today, the thought of Jarryd Hayne taking the field in the NRL seems that of a distant memory.

Hayne’s journey to the San Francisco 49ers as a rookie and his progressive success in the NFL has been one of the most followed stories of the year, as both Australia and the US exploded in a new-found Haynemania.

The journey is so big in fact that it would be easy to forget the reason the Aussie made it there in the first place, throughout the many seasons he was adored as one of the best players in rugby league.

Just hours prior to the commencement of the League’s biggest awards night, the former Parramatta Eels star reflected on a time when his NRL career was at its pinnacle, and the notion of a stint in the NFL still an unconfirmed pipe dream.

Posting on Twitter, Hayne appeared to reminisce on the year that has passed.

Dally M's tonight back in oz. I arrived back the day of, with the dream stirred up. 12 months has gone fast. Good luck to all 👌🏽

— jarryd hayne (@JarrydHayne) September 28, 2015

Ahead of the 2014 Dally M Awards, a then 26-year-old Hayne had just returned from a trip to the US on a scouting trip to visit the Seattle Seahawks.

Selected to tour with the Kangaroos squad, Hayne was set to miss a Parramatta Eels team trip to America, in which the team would train alongside the Seahawks and gain an insight into life as an NFL player.

However the former fullback made arrangements to take the trip alone, and spent 10 days with the 2013 Super Bowl champions.

At the time, the news of his leaving the NRL had not yet been broken, and all was well assumed Hayne would play with Australia in November and return to the Eels for the 2015 season.

One reporter even condemned the notion Hayne may contemplate the switch to try his hand at American football.

“Hayne turns 27 in February; too late in his career to make a radical switch to American football — especially given the fact he would have to be in exile for a year because the two sports are played in different seasons,” sports writer Josh Massoud said.

When Jarryd Hayne and Johnathan Thurston were announced joint winners of the 2014 Dally M Award, the notion of Hayne moving to the NFL seemed ridiculous.

Hayne had expressed interest in the game, but it appeared he had not yet finalised his movements.

“He has not completely ruled it out,” Hayne’s agent, Wayne Beavis, said.

“But the seasons are out of whack and he would have to miss 12 months.

“He’s just interested in a lot of sports, including NFL and basketball. He loves the hype, he loves the way it all works over there in America.”

Arriving back in Australia the day of the Dally M Awards, Hayne made history when he and Johnathan Thurston were awarded the first ever joint medal.

In the same ceremony, the 49ers running back was named fullback of the year, representative player of the year, and top tryscorer, bringing his career Dally M award total to eight.

Rounding out arguably his best season in the NRL, Hayne announced he would be leaving the game just two weeks later in a gamble that proved to pay dividends as he embarked on a transition into American football.

“Today I can officially announce that I will be heading to the United States to pursue an opportunity to play American football,” Hayne said in a press conference announcing his move.

“I’m excited about the potential opportunities that lie ahead. I’ve known the deadline has been looming for me to make this call, and I believe the right time is now.

“I’m so passionate about the challenge that lies ahead for me, not only as an athlete but more so as a person. It’s the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my life.