MELBOURNE — NFL hopeful Jarryd Hayne showed he was a hard man to bring down in his first two pre-season games for the San Francisco 49ers. Putting a stop to the hype surrounding the Australian rugby league international could prove equally challenging.
Hayne's bid to break into the 49ers' 53-man roster has captivated his home nation since his tearful announcement last October that he was quitting a wildly successful rugby career to pursue his American dream.
His tackle-busting runs against the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys have taken the hype to a new level, while adding a breath of fresh air to a franchise that has had to deal with the sudden departure of former coach Jim Harbaugh and the retirements of a number of players.