Jarryd Hayne’s NFL conquest continues with 49ers pre-season game against the Dallas Cowboys

JARRYD Hayne is big news in the USA. He proved it with another phenomenal display for the 49ers against the Dallas Cowboys.

San Francisco 49ers running back Jarryd Hayne (38) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Ken Bishop (66) during the second half of an NFL preseason football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

JARRYD Hayne has set the National Football League alight for the second straight pre-season game, helping the San Francisco 49ers to a 23-6 win over Dallas with some scintillating punt returns and electrifying runs.

Hayne, who was the focus of pre-game television hype, wasted no time in putting his stamp on the home game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday (Monday AEST), taking a punt while running backwards over his shoulder and then turning up field for a classy 27-yard return after the opening Cowboys drive.

Proving he’s no flash in the pan the former rugby league star then backed it up with a 34-yard run on the next Dallas punt and was only stopped from running the length by Cowboys punter Chris Jones.

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When the 27-year-old rookie took his third return for another 23-yard gain commentators gushed: “Going to be hard not to put that guy on this football team.”

The Cowboys’ fourth punt was deliberately guided to the sideline to prevent another return despite the fact Hayne wasn’t in the backfield.

Having impressed all the commentators, when asked after the game what he couldn’t do Hayne jokingly replied: “I don’t play quarterback.”

First game at home n got the W ! Feeling the love from down under. #49ers #australia #fiji #ctown #2566 LOVE ✌🏽️

— jarryd hayne (@jarrydhayne_1) August 24, 2015

“I’m grateful for the opportunity and wherever I get the opportunity to be on the field I’ll be there.

And he demonstrated he still wasn’t getting ahead of himself saying he still found the game challenging.

“I’m still getting use to lowering my pads and running off the right blocks and the right run plays. There’s a whole bunch of things. I’m just trying my best every week and studying and just really enjoying the process.”

He paid credit to running backs coach Tom Rathman who has been guiding Hayne during his transition.

“He’s been great. Anyone that has been under Tom knows what he’s like. He sings till the cows come home. You need to know how to squeeze the ball.

“Body to ball boundary and all those little intricacies that make a good running back. He’s been great. He’s definitely been a bloke that doesn’t let anything slip. As soon as something isn’t right he’ll be on your back making sure you fix it up.”

But the media attention is something he knows won’t go away.

“I’m over here having a crack and doing my best. I know that (media attention) comes with it. I’m just focused on the job on hand.”

San Francisco 49ers punt returner Jarryd Hayne is tackled by Dallas Cowboys punter Chris Jones

Hayne was also given a crack at running back to open the second half and after a few short gains burst free with a 34-yard run on his fourth carry down the left sideline.

His eight carries in total netted a game high 54 yards for runners, sparking commentators to call him “the biggest story in pro football so far this season.” He even played on special team’s defence, limiting a Cowboys return by getting the first touch on a Dallas returner.

When asked of Hayne’s returns, head coach Jim Tomsula in trying to limit the pressure on Hayne, said: “Second game of the pre-season, he’s just got to keep working.”

“He’s on a road, he’s doing things and it is good, but we still have a way to go. But I’m trying to calm it (The Hayne Plane).

“The guy is doing really well he’s making a case for himself.

“53-man roster when you’ve never played the sport - that’s the story.

“Having the guts to leave what he knew, he walked away from all that, that’s what makes this special to me.

“There’s still a long way to go.”

Want to stream #DALvsSF? US fans on-demand: http://t.co/8IFTlUolzg Int'l fans live: http://t.co/L3McnqyIzI pic.twitter.com/pPwNOXFxaL

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 23, 2015

Continuing his quest to make the 49ers fulltime roster, Hayne had previously run for 63 yards on five carries at running back and compiled 120 all-purpose yards in week one’s 23-10 loss to the Houston Texans.

The highlight was a 53-yard carry in the second quarter that nearly wound up in the end zone.

The 49ers travel to Denver next Saturday.

#haynemania pic.twitter.com/eEWQaEpg26

— nick walshaw (@nickwalshaw) August 23, 2015

"Jarryd Hayne ... He's makin' this side. You got any more of him?" #haynemania pic.twitter.com/nJtMmRFv2S

— nick walshaw (@nickwalshaw) August 23, 2015

#49ers Jarryd Hayne getting ready with RB coach Tom Rathman. https://t.co/3s7Fb5Bp0f

— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) August 23, 2015

Originally published as Jarryd Hayne’s NFL conquest continues with 49ers pre-season game against the Dallas Cowboys