Jarryd Hayne belongs to NFL, says agent

Jarryd Hayne has proven he belongs to the NFL despite a rookie season filled with setbacks in a “highly dysfunctional” environment with the San Francisco 49ers, according to Jack Bechta.

Bechta, Hayne’s representative in the United States, believes the Australian rugby league star exceeded expectations in his first season as an American football player. Bechta said Hayne could have easily been “written off” after getting demoted in the 49ers’ practice squad last year, but the 27-year-old rookie continued to impress to earn his rightful spot with the team.

"He did really well, but the thing to note is that the glass is only half full. It's more than half full,” Bechta told the Sydney Morning Herald. “He got the experience, he got to play and most importantly he proved he does belong in that league."

Hayne was featured in the 49ers’ first six games of the season, but his inexperience and errors during game days cost him his spot in the team’s active roster. After spending more than a month in the practice squad, Hayne got the opportunity to showcase his improvement when he started as running back for the 49ers against the Detroit Lions, taking 35 of the team’s 53 offensive snaps.

However, the 49ers, who missed the NFL playoffs for the second straight year after finishing the season with a 5-11 record, is expected to have a new coach after sacking Jim Tomsula in his first season as head coach, which means there is still uncertainty in Hayne’s future with the club. But Bechta is convinced his client would be part of the 49ers’ plans for next season, with San Francisco retaining Hayne’s contract rights after the Aussie finished the season on the active list.

“Obviously with the new coach on board hopefully he wants me back and if that’s the case I’ll be back in California,” Hayne said, reports the Daily Telegraph. “That’s the plan.”