Dally M 2014 winner Jarryd Hayne might return to the Fiji Bati fold after a five-year lapse.
This was hinted to SUNsports by Fiji Bati head coach Wise Kativerata during an earlier interview.
“The door is open for him if he wants to join,” Kaitverata said.
“He (Hayne) is fit but we are just waiting on his decision if he is interested, which will be also be a boost for the team.”
The announcement of the Bati squad for the Pacific Championships has been deferred to next week because the team management is still sorting out players’ release from their respective NRL clubs.
Journey
Hayne began his career in 2006 as a winger for the Parramatta Eels, winning the NRL’s Dally M Rookie of the Year award.
The following year, he made his debut for New South Wales in State of Origin and Australia internationally, and began playing primarily as a fullback.
He won the Dally M Medal in 2009 and 2014 as rugby league’s player of the year, and the Rugby League International Federation’s International Player of the Year award in 2009.
He represented Australia at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, and his father’s native Fiji at the 2008 and 2017 tournaments when not selected for Australia.
Hayne attracted significant attention when he made the switch from one of the NRL’s top players to a rookie with the San Francisco 49ers in the 2015 NFL season. At the end of the season, he ended his NFL career.
In 2016, he represented Fiji 7s in rugby union sevens, but after not being selected for the 2016 Olympic squad, he returned to the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans before a final season with Parramatta in 2018.
He led the Fiji Bati team to knock out finals’ favourites New Zealand 4-2 during the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
In June, Hayne walked free from court after rape charges against him were formally withdrawn.
The 36-year-old won an appeal against his convictions early this month.
He has faced trial for the same alleged assault three times, with the first ending in a hung jury and the second’s guilty verdict also overturned on appeal. Hayne has consistently denied he attacked the woman – who cannot legally be named – in her bedroom in 2018, arguing the pair had consensual sex.
“So far we’ve been talking to other NRL players who are interested in representing the country.
“We’ve had talks with Mark Nawaqanitawase, Tui Kamikamica and Api Koroisau to name a few,” said Kativerata. Explosive forward Viliame Kikau is also expected to make the cut.
Kativerata added that the FNRL would focus on roping in a number of local-based players from the Vodafone Cup to have a taste of national footy.
‘Young blood’
“Last year, we took a few young boys such as Kitione Kautoga and Caleb Navale. As long as we got Fijian boys making their debut and stepping up, we are doing our job,” he said.
The target of the team this year is to win. He said the team is building up to the 2026 Rugby League World Cup in Australia.
He highlighted that the team is blessed to have a good leader like Tui Kamikamica.
“Tui is a humble giant. He is a good role model and good boost in the team for the Pacific Nations Cup matches,” he said.
Kativerata the team has to be ready to get the job done against Papua New Guinea as it is a strong formidable side.
He added that it is his job to help educate and direct his team to winning ways with the right combination and set of players..
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