Jarryd Hayne NFL: Aussie wants to score touchdown next season

Jarryd Hayne is on a mission to score his first career touchdown when he gets back with the San Francisco 49ers for the 2016-2017 NFL season.

Aside from securing a slot in the 49ers’ active roster, Hayne has another thing to check in his bucket list once the next season starts. According to the Australian rugby league star, he was “devastated” to not experience posting a touchdown, but insisted it will be top-priority when he is back on the field wearing his No. 38 jersey.

"I got close twice this year. I was devastated," Hayne told ESPN. "Definitely next year, it has to be done.”

Hayne missed a couple of chances to score at the end zone during his rookie season with the 49ers. The closest he got to record his first touchdown was against the New York Giants in October last year, when he was only three-yard short of reaching the end zone after blitzing through defenders. The 27-year-old Aussie also had an opportunity to score against the Detroit Lions last month in a game where he took most of the 49ers’ offensive snaps.

However, the former Eel has to impress first 49ers new coach Chip Kelly before moving to his own goal as a second-year NFL player. San Francisco deemed Hayne as too raw in his first year playing American football, but the 49ers general manager Trent Baalke is convinced Hayne is set for a breakthrough performance this year.

"I think this offseason will be huge [for Hayne]," Baalke said in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald. "They always say the biggest jump for a player is between year one and year two. We expect the same for Jarryd.”

Ever since returning to Australia, Hayne has been linked to an NRL return. But Hayne has dismissed any of the rumours and asserted that his goal is to continue his NFL dream with the 49ers.