After going through a struggling season as the running back of the San Francisco 49ers, various rumors indicated that Jarryd Hayne might ditch his NFL career and return to Australia and New Zealand's National Rugby League. But according to the athlete, these reports are not true.
Hayne joined the NRL in 2000 and for more than a decade, he was able to make a name for himself as a professional rugby player. But then, in 2015, he was given the opportunity to penetrate the NFL market after the 49ers offered him a three-year contract.
However, it was clear that he struggled adapting to the playing style and rules of the NFL during his first season of the league. Because, various reports suggested that after the 2015 season, Hayne will go back to playing rugby.
But, as noted by Hayne, these reports probably originated from his home country in Australia to generate hype for his return as a rugby player. For him though, he has no plans returning to the NRL anytime soon and he's determined to making it in the NFL, SFGate reported.
"At the start it got a bit annoying during last season," he said during his first media appearance of the year. "I guess it was disappointing, but that's the media back home."
"They make stories up whether it's to sell papers or try to get more viewers," he added. "I'm accustomed to that. I know how they operate. For me, I knew what I was doing. I knew where I was going."
In fact, Hayne believes that after spending an entire season with the 49ers, he has improved as an NFL player. He also said that he has already managed his initial difficulties of learning about the formations, plays, and other NFL jargons.
In addition, he's becoming very familiar with head coach Chip Kelly's playbook.
It was weird because I was studying from Monday to Thursday and I was just like, 'I'm going to have a day off to just clear my head,'" he said according to The Guardian.
"I did that and come Saturday I was OK," he added. "Then Sunday I just went, 'boom boom boom.' It felt great because I've learned the majority."
