Hayne's Rugby League Comeback Delayed Another Week
Jarryd Hayne's comeback to rugby league has been delayed by at least seven days as the 37-year-old is sidelined for his initial match after six-and-a-half years due to a strained hamstring.
Hayne is scheduled to return to action with Wentworthville in the Ron Massey Cup this season, playing as a five-eighth for their team at the third level.
The player, who has won the Dally M Medal twice, had been advocating for a comeback from a hamstring injury to take part in the first round on Saturday. However, he wasn’t included in the Magpies’ lineup.
The medical team has determined that Hayne won’t be included last minute due to his current condition, however, he is expected to make a strong comeback against Penrith Brothers the following week.
After leading Parramatta to the 2009 grand final and becoming the most prominent figure in the NRL, Hayne hasn't participated in a rugby league game since his contract with the Eels ended following their 2018 season.
The possibility of him securing further deals was terminated after he faced accusations of two instances of sexual activity without consent during the evening of the 2018 Grand Final.
Hayne was convicted after two separate trials and spent over a year incarcerated, however, he was freed from jail last June when his conviction was annulled.
The ex-NSW and Aussie player had consistently claimed he was innocent during the entire situation, prior to having his charges formally dismissed a few weeks following his successful appeal.
Hayne rejoined the rugby league scene with an official role as part of Fiji's coaching team before the previous year's Pacific Championships.
Last month, he made a short appearance in a Nines tournament on the Gold Coast, however, owing to the hamstring issue he had before the event, his playing time was restricted.
The Parramatta local favorite is aiming to possibly represent Fiji once more by the end of this year, provided he regains his fitness while playing for Wentworthville.
Hayne had been a member of Fiji’s 2008 and 2017 Rugby World Cup teams, and he also played for the country in rugby sevens following his time in the NFL.
The Ron Massey Cup stands as the third-level open-age contest in New South Wales, ranking beneath both the NRL and the NSW Cup.
Wentworthville serves as a nurturing team for Parramatta's NSW Cup squad. Hayne has openly admitted that although returning to the NRL is like something out of a storybook, such an outcome seems improbable.
