Hayne tells Burgess to switch to NFL
Melbourne: Jarryd Hayne has left for the US with a parting gift for South Sydney’s Thomas Burgess by encouraging him to pursue a career in the NFL — before it’s too late. Burgess created a stir prior to Christmas by training with the New York Giants. The 120kg prop has made no secret that the opportunity has left him pondering a career change in America. Hayne said he spoke to Burgess about the code switch while he was recently in Sydney, telling the 23-year-old he only wished he’d made the bold move earlier in his career. The San Francisco 49ers prospect said that with age on his side, Burgess would thrive if he took the College Football path to the NFL. “I saw him when I first got back and I said if I was his age again and wanting to do it, I’d defininelty go to College,’’ Hayne said. “I wanted to go do College when I was 24 and I just hesitated a bit. But by the time I was 26, I made a decision and the rest is history.