One year ago on Oct. 15, Jarryd Hayne shocked a nation when he announced his intention to leave the National Rugby League to pursue a career in the NFL.
At the time, many people in Australia questioned the decision to give up stardom Down Under for obscurity in America.
But now 12 months later, Hayne’s journey can only be described as a resounding success given his zero prior experience in the sport. The newcomer to American football burst onto the scene with the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason and won a job on the 53-man roster as the team’s punt returner.