HE’S HAD THE HIGH, NOW TO GET LOW
JARRYD Hayne is being watched.
Closely. Call it a new twist to Haynemania.
One where the focus now shifts from Qantas endorsements and sales of jersey No.38, to that right shoulder of a Denver Bronco the Australian couldn’t name.
An anonymous safety who yesterday, on the second straight day of opposed drilling between these two sides, seemed to know all about the “rugger” star.
Which is why he lined him up – and smashed him.
“Yeah, I had a run and, I think it was the safety, he put a little bit extra in,’’ Hayne grinned later. “Afterwards, he was telling me to get low. Said ‘Get low 38’. So that was good advice.”
Better, it was the next step in his NFL journey.
For while Hayne held court after practice with 49ers scribes on one side of the field, Denver journalists were gathered together on the other – posing questions about the Minto product to not only Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak, but special teams co-ordinator Joe Decamillis.
And guess what? Both men knew him. Well. Decamillis going so far as to say he’d watched “a lot” of Hayne film.
No longer, see, is this 27-yearold an Aussie oddity. The Vegemite kid. No, now, he’s an NFL contender. A pre-season star. A target.
Which is why that Denver safety was right, Hayne does need to lower his body with ball in hand.
“I’ve definitely got to get lower, yeah,” Hayne agreed. “I know myself, when I run high.
“So I’m having to work on that because being 6’ 2”, that’s a disadvantage.”
“I’ve definitely got to get lower. I’m having to work on that because being 6’ 2”, that’s a disadvantage
JARRYD HAYNE
Indeed, the more Hayne talks the more you realise, regardless of his rising hype, this kid from Housing Commission stock won’t be satisfied without his name on an NFL roster. What does he think of Haynemania?
“I’m not thinking about it.” Odds of more NRL players coming across? “Not my concern.”
And still, there are moments that make him pause.
Like yesterday, when the Niners rookie couldn’t help but take three, four, five seconds to marvel at the throwing arm of legendary Denver quarterback Peyton Manning.
“I caught one of his passes,’’ Hayne started before realising the American press might not get what he meant.
So he went again, saying: “I watched it sorry. And the finesse on (the throw) ... it was unbelievable.”
Indeed, this is the show Hayne himself is now part of. And yet he isn’t. A truth proved yesterday when, asked the moment he finally arrived in this squad, he replied: “Hasn’t happened yet.” Ever felt like giving up? “First two weeks,’’ he continued honestly. “I was like ‘what’s going on?’.
“Everything was in one ear out the other.”
Worse, said words were rattling from the mouth of running backs coach Tom Rathman, a Nebraska native all bowed legs and machine gun speech.
“I think anyone who’s been coached by Tom Rathman, you know, he does speak pretty fast,’’ Hayne grinned.
“It took a bit of adjusting to understand him but I hung in. There was no way I was leaving. I was always going to fight those battles and I have.” And now, the next one begins So get low 38, get low.