Could Jarryd Hayne switch codes successfully?

[Sunny_]

Interesting article in the Sydney Morning Herald today, saying that Hayne might try his hand in either Union or AFL at the end of his current contract. He's 25 right now and contracted for another 2 years, meaning if he does switch, he'll be 27 years old.

''I don't feel I could do it, I know I could,'' Hayne said of a potential move to either code. ''I enjoy other sports and I'd love to try other sports, don't get me wrong, but from a career perspective, I haven't done all I want to do in rugby league yet. It's obviously a time thing and rugby league takes up all of that.

''With all the codes playing in the same season, it's difficult. It definitely would be interesting to try my hand and see where I'm at but rugby league comes first and that's what I'm going to be doing - for the next couple of years anyway.''

Obviously not definitive, but do people think he could have a reasonable season before getting too old? Or would he be changing into the game at too late an age?

It took Karmichael two solid seasons and three pre-seasons to get the nous and body shape required to play AFL. Keeping in mind that that he's as driven as one could get, it's hard to see Hayne fast tracking this process. And while he's a serviceable player that adds to our inside midfield grunt, Hunt is certainly no superstar.

This means Hayne wouldn't be playing serviceable footy until he'd be 29, or even 30.

Would people like to see another RL player switch the codes and attempt it after Folau? Would you be okay with your club picking him up?

 

[Syd]

No, he's already a soft, front runner in an underperforming team.
Highly over-rated IMO

 

[Andrew Mc]

Union, yes. AFL, probably not.

 

[Slax]

Not sure he's got the drive or toughness to do want Hunt has done and at his age it's a definite no.

Really not sure how many clubs would be willing to take the punt on NRL players switching, they are a different body type and it takes someone pretty special to be able to do it unlike Gaelic football which is a much closer fit. Also as falou showed you can have athletic talent but it is very hard to give someone a footy brain and this is part of why I feel he left, he jsut couldn't get his head around the game properly.

 

[fabulousphil]

Code hopping and the code war has been playing out amongst the football codes for a long time, but i would have to say that in the Riverina is where it seems to happen more than most.

3 instances spring to mind lately, that i am aware of, and there is probably stacks more ......

Lenon rues Mortimer switch ..... http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/1391624/lenon-rues-mortimer-switch/?cs=149 .......however at the end of this article it states that 2 RU players are switching to play for CAK (local AF club)

New recruits to lift Swans http://www.areanews.com.au/story/1333242/new-recruits-to-lift-swans/?cs=671 ..... High profile RL player, 5 irish recruits, local soccer star, Local basketball coach and players etc etc etc etc

This season in Canberra AFL the small country town of Yass will struggle because this season 6 or so guys are switching to RL, whilst in places like Narooma on the South Coast of NSW players switch on a yearly basis causing towns teams to either have a RL team or a AF team, or 2 weaker teams.

Code swapping and the code war is being primarily played out in NSW

 

[carnthemlions]

Hell no.
He has trouble playing consistently well as it is. Also incredibly injury prone.
Hunt>>>>>>>>>>>>Hayne

 

[le dominateur]

Watched him play last weekend, he had a shocker and actually looked disinterested.

 

[Rack Watts]

Lol, I love Hayne.

But no.

 

[Rack Watts]

Watched him play last weekend, he had a shocker and actually looked disinterested.

First round I thought "Yes, '09 Hayne is back!"
Second round "Oh"
Third round "****"

 

[KissKiss]

No to AFL. He is too old and lacks the motivation to make the change.

He would probably be able to switch to Union

 

[Goggin Our Best]

No -but Billy Slater could -and would quickly become a superstar AFL player

Nothing is beyond Slater -its incredible to think that he was once an apprentice jockey -who rode trackwork for Gai Waterhouse at Randwick -then becomes a champion rugby league player

When the Storm had that training session at Geelong -Mark Thompson said it was a NO CONTEST between Ablett and Slater -Ablett simply couldnt keep up

You could envisage Slater being a champion onballer -who unlike alot of them -would kick a stack of goals as well

Will never happen though -because he is loyal to Rugby League-which you have to admire him for.

 

[the distributer]

Depends on if he played Aussie rules as a junior, if he didn't he's no chance, if he did then who knows?, the AFL would throw in a sh!t load of cash to get his signature that's for sure, highly doubt he'd want to leave a game he's a star at though.

 

[the distributer]

Not sure he's got the drive or toughness to do want Hunt has done and at his age it's a definite no.

Really not sure how many clubs would be willing to take the punt on NRL players switching, they are a different body type and it takes someone pretty special to be able to do it unlike Gaelic football which is a much closer fit. Also as falou showed you can have athletic talent but it is very hard to give someone a footy brain and this is part of why I feel he left, he jsut couldn't get his head around the game properly.

He would be paid outside the cap IMO, probably on the proviso he played in one of the expansion states.

 

[the distributer]

No -but Billy Slater could -and would quickly become a superstar AFL player

Nothing is beyond Slater -its incredible to think that he was once an apprentice jockey -who rode trackwork for Gai Waterhouse at Randwick -then becomes a champion rugby league player

When the Storm had that training session at Geelong -Mark Thompson said it was a NO CONTEST between Ablett and Slater -Ablett simply couldnt keep up

You could envisage Slater being a champion onballer -who unlike alot of them -would kick a stack of goals as well

Will never happen though -because he is loyal to Rugby League-which you have to admire him for.

Yeah Slater would be a weapon.

 

[Plugger35]

Depends on what you mean by successful. Hayne could quite possibly become an average AFL player like Karmichael Hunt or Israel Folau but he won't be as good as he is at rugby league so what's the point? Apart from getting more money.

If any league player could switch codes successfully it would be Billy Slater, he has mad skills and would probably be a gun at any sport he played. He's too old to make the switch to AFL now though.

 

[the distributer]

Interesting article in the Sydney Morning Herald today, saying that Hayne might try his hand in either Union or AFL at the end of his current contract. He's 25 right now and contracted for another 2 years, meaning if he does switch, he'll be 27 years old.



Obviously not definitive, but do people think he could have a reasonable season before getting too old? Or would he be changing into the game at too late an age?

It took Karmichael two solid seasons and three pre-seasons to get the nous and body shape required to play AFL. Keeping in mind that that he's as driven as one could get, it's hard to see Hayne fast tracking this process. And while he's a serviceable player that adds to our inside midfield grunt, Hunt is certainly no superstar.

This means Hayne wouldn't be playing serviceable footy until he'd be 29, or even 30.

Would people like to see another RL player switch the codes and attempt it after Folau? Would you be okay with your club picking him up?

To be fair, Izzy switched for the wrong reasons, his heart was never in it.

 

[Pykie]

People need to get their head around the fact, it's the attitude of these players that matter, not the natural talent.

From all reports Hunt was a leader as soon as he walked through the door, has incredible drive and is a fantastic professional.

And he's still not completely there yet, and it took him about 3 years.

I remember hearing a quote from Folau saying the hardest thing to deal with at the start was the diet constraints, he went from eating KFC 4 times a week to being put on a 100% strict diet to try and keep his skin folds down and drop all the weight.

Rugby League players still down beers straight after the game FFS, it's a completely different level of fitness and professionalism required to make it in AFL, and most of them have no idea what they are in for when they make these sorts of comments.

Hayne would never make it, a 22 year old Billy Slater probably would, you need guys of the highest character and drive to attempt the switch, not guys looking for a bigger paycheck.

 

[KissKiss]

Rugby League players still down beers straight after the game FFS, it's a completely different level of fitness and professionalism required to make it in AFL, and most of them have no idea what they are in for when they make these sorts of comments.

This has been pretty much the secret to the success of the Storm over the last several years (salaray cap aside). They are the hardest working and most professional team in the league and they have a pretty close relationship with a few AFL teams. But even they are regularly amazed at the level of work the AFL players do.

Top post though Pykie

 

[Sebastian Balboa]

No, he's already a soft, front runner in an underperforming team.
Highly over-rated IMO

Yeah, he's a bit flaky even in league.

 

[Cmarsh]

I don't even know who he is.

 

[Davo23]

Do we need another showpony who squibs a contest?

We have enough already, Jarryd ...

 

[carnthemlions]

People need to get their head around the fact, it's the attitude of these players that matter, not the natural talent.

From all reports Hunt was a leader as soon as he walked through the door, has incredible drive and is a fantastic professional.

And he's still not completely there yet, and it took him about 3 years.

I remember hearing a quote from Folau saying the hardest thing to deal with at the start was the diet constraints, he went from eating KFC 4 times a week to being put on a 100% strict diet to try and keep his skin folds down and drop all the weight.

Rugby League players still down beers straight after the game FFS, it's a completely different level of fitness and professionalism required to make it in AFL, and most of them have no idea what they are in for when they make these sorts of comments.

Hayne would never make it, a 22 year old Billy Slater probably would, you need guys of the highest character and drive to attempt the switch, not guys looking for a bigger paycheck.

I think you're underselling league a bit here.
It's a completely different kind of fitness.

 

[Dory_77]

No -but Billy Slater could -and would quickly become a superstar AFL player

Nothing is beyond Slater -its incredible to think that he was once an apprentice jockey -who rode trackwork for Gai Waterhouse at Randwick -then becomes a champion rugby league player

When the Storm had that training session at Geelong -Mark Thompson said it was a NO CONTEST between Ablett and Slater -Ablett simply couldnt keep up

You could envisage Slater being a champion onballer -who unlike alot of them -would kick a stack of goals as well

Will never happen though -because he is loyal to Rugby League-which you have to admire him for.

Agreed. I actually think any of the Storm 'big 3' would make solid players. Cronk and Smith both can kick fairly well (would need to adjust from bombing it to being more precise) and seem like good leaders and thinkers on the field. I feel that's a big part of where Izzy went wrong. In league all he had to do was catch ball, run ball over line. In AFL he had to do much more than that, especially in his ruck stints. The others mentioned would at least have some game sense about them and would adjust more quickly to how the game is played because they're used to making the play, unlike a guy like Izzy. That said though, they're all much too old to be picked up now. Would've been good a few years ago though.

 

[KissKiss]

Agreed. I actually think any of the Storm 'big 3' would make solid players. Cronk and Smith both can kick fairly well (would need to adjust from bombing it to being more precise) and seem like good leaders and thinkers on the field. I feel that's a big part of where Izzy went wrong. In league all he had to do was catch ball, run ball over line. In AFL he had to do much more than that, especially in his ruck stints. The others mentioned would at least have some game sense about them and would adjust more quickly to how the game is played because they're used to making the play, unlike a guy like Izzy. That said though, they're all much too old to be picked up now. Would've been good a few years ago though.

Cronk and Slater probably could have made it (Slater more than probably) but I'm not so sure Smith would. I'm not sure he would have the physical capabilities for AFL. He is reasonably fit and plays 80 mins making a lot of tackles but he is probably one of the slowest out there. He definitely has a footy (NRL) brain but there's no guarantee that would translate to AFL game sense

 

[Sebastian Balboa]

Agreed. I actually think any of the Storm 'big 3' would make solid players. Cronk and Smith both can kick fairly well (would need to adjust from bombing it to being more precise) and seem like good leaders and thinkers on the field. I feel that's a big part of where Izzy went wrong. In league all he had to do was catch ball, run ball over line. In AFL he had to do much more than that, especially in his ruck stints. The others mentioned would at least have some game sense about them and would adjust more quickly to how the game is played because they're used to making the play, unlike a guy like Izzy. That said though, they're all much too old to be picked up now. Would've been good a few years ago though.

All speculative, of course, but the Storm boys had/have the advantage of living in an AFL-immersed environment as well; Karmichael came from a State where footy has a good level of acceptability. Not so much for Izzy on both counts.