Jarryd Hayne has won a place in the San Francisco 49ers 53 man roster for 2015-16.

This represents one of the greatest code switches in sporting history.

It required enormous courage, dedication and talent.

It also gives great publicity to rugby league, because the words rugby league and NRL are all over the NFL and San Francisco 49ers websites.

I fear however that NFL agents will soon descend on Australia and New Zealand, and might possibly snare other NRL stars like Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Jason Taumololo, James Roberts, Anthony Milford, Semi Radradra or Marika Koroibete.

They might even look at the Under 20s, and grab superstars in the making, like Sydney Roosters full back Latrell Mitchell.

In Britain they may chase Zachary Hardaker, Kallum Watkins, Ryan Hall, Thomas Briscoe, George Williams, and Dominic Manfredi, and in France Fouad Yaha.

Regardless, Hayne's achievement in such a short time, with only four preseason games under his belt, has been amazing. It shows the superior athleticism of the top rugby league stars.

Think Yaha will be safe

This year I agree. But what about next year?

wouldnt worry

As with Burgess to RU, nobody can cite a tangible benefit for RL. A feel-good factor because one of ours is a star elsewhere is worth precisely zero. Publicity means nothing if it isn't backed up by cash. The downside is Hayne leaving the NRL and not playing this sport. Even worse if a few others leave to try to copy him.

Quote: BrisbaneRhino "As with Burgess to RU, nobody can cite a tangible benefit for RL. A feel-good factor because one of ours is a star elsewhere is worth precisely zero. Publicity means nothing if it isn't backed up by cash. The downside is Hayne leaving the NRL and not playing this sport. Even worse if a few others leave to try to copy him.'" Huge publicity for the sport. For example: https://twitter.com/nfl/status/640275355824054272 This video montage showing Hayne playing in the NRL, including the NRL in the tweet, from an account with 13 million followers. Hayne on his own doesn't mean the game will grow in the USA, but if for example Parramatta played a friendly in San Francisco, I think they'd be successful. We just need the vision to capitalise on it. I think it's different with rugby union because we're two sports generally competing in the same countries for the same players. Hayne going to the NFL is a story that is completely out of left field.

Quote: BrisbaneRhino "As with Burgess to RU, nobody can cite a tangible benefit for RL. A feel-good factor because one of ours is a star elsewhere is worth precisely zero. Publicity means nothing if it isn't backed up by cash. The downside is Hayne leaving the NRL and not playing this sport. Even worse if a few others leave to try to copy him.'" Huge publicity for the sport. For example: https://twitter.com/nfl/status/640275355824054272 This video montage showing Hayne playing in the NRL, including the NRL in the tweet, from an account with 13 million followers. Hayne on his own doesn't mean the game will grow in the USA, but if for example Parramatta played a friendly in San Francisco, I think they'd be successful. We just need the vision to capitalise on it. I think it's different with rugby union because we're two sports generally competing in the same countries for the same players. Hayne going to the NFL is a story that is completely out of left field.

Millions of people in the USA have now seen part of Hayne's rugby league highlights reel thanks to the NFL promotional video which intertwined some of his NRL highlights with some of his NFL preseason highlights. It will surely make some Americans interested in checking out rugby league -- the game which their newest NFL star has emerged from.

In 5 years time we'll still have the same dilemma of converting publicity into sponsorship, money, crowds, player retention...

A reasonably good thread ruined by the word Zachary

I don't see any reason to be cheering. We've lost the guy. And if League's "benefit" means the NFL is about to start pinching more of our players then pardon me for not uncorking the champagne.

Again, some highlights on a free site is worth exactly zero. To quote Tom Cruise - show me the money. A few bored Yanks looking at YouTube clips does nothing. Parra could play a friendly in the US and make a few quid? Wow. That's worth losing one of the best backs of his generation. Not.

Talking up these benefits and how the publicity around Hayne can be "capitalised" on reminds me a lot of the dotcom boom. Went from valuing websites based on profit, to revenue and finally to clicks. Unsurprisingly the wheels fell off because the much hyped clicks never turned into cash. As will Hayne's move to the NFL.

I'd rather lose players to the NFL than that shire of e Union

Always wondered what would happen if USA took RL seriously, only about 1.5% of college graduates make it to the NFL and last over 4 years so there is a large pool or very fit athletic guys there who if they had another option might make the move over to RL, majority are probably built for it, needs some multi billionaires to get behind it and push the idea into colleges and onto the main stage over there, similar to how the MLS has grown over the years.

League is taking baby steps in the US.
If interest in Hayne can drive a small comp in the south west to form, that would be a good step forward.
The south west has been talked about as the next logical area for League to develop for the 15 years that League has been played in the US, because of high population density and high ex-pat population from League playing countries.

So you think that a "brain drain" into yet another sport will be good for the game.

If it were to help attract blue chip sponsors into RL then I would agree with you and there is some satisfaction in seeing one of League's top players succeed BUT, if the NRL comes calling, as a sport, we simply cannot compete with the $millions in that sport and apart form perhaps getting some yankee dollar, the numbers of top players will shrink still further.

What do you think would happebn if another 6/8 top players went form our sport ?