Jarryd Hayne has quit the Parramatta Eels and abandoned his spot in the Kangaroos’ Four Nations squad to chase an NFL contract in the US.
“For the past 24 months I’ve been thinking about having a crack in the NFL, and over the last 12 months I’ve been seriously considering it,” an emotional Hayne said at Wednesday’s press conference.
“Today I can officially announce that I will be heading to the United States to pursue an opportunity to play American Football.”
A veteran of 176 NRL games with 103 tries to his name, Hayne heads to the US despite having a year remaining on his Parramatta contract.
A pair of training sessions with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) gridiron team in October 2013 further fuelled his passion for the sport.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the NFL, and at my age, this is my one and only chance at having a crack at playing there,” he added.
“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.”
The star full-back travelled to the US in September to check out both the Seattle Seahawks and University of Washington Huskies‘ home bases and was scheduled to return for the Eels’ US-based training camp in November.
The Eels granted the two-time Dally M medallist a release from his contract to allow the 26-year-old a shot at cracking an NRL roster- a tough ask in mid-October considering the league is six rounds into its 16 week season.
“It’s not going to be easy. I don’t have any experience in NFL, I don’t have a contract, I haven’t signed with anyone,” Hayne told reporters.
“I’ll be a free agent, it will give me the opportunity to go over there and train and potentially, hopefully, play NFL one day.”
Hayne leaves the NRL with a “lifetime agreement” with the Eels, meaning if he makes a return to the sport it will be with his old club.
Photo: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images
