- Jarryd Hayne has started training with a prominent sprint coach
- Coach suggests a possible comeback for the ex-NRL star
- This follows his release from incarceration on June 11
Jarryd Hayne, the former rugby league star, has given a notable indication that he may be planning a return to professional sports, as a video has surfaced of him training with a prominent Sydney sprint coach.
At 36 years old, Hayne, who last played NRL football in 2018, has been spotted on social media training alongside renowned sprint coach Roger Fabri.
Fabri, who has trained several NRL athletes including James Tedesco, Michael Jennings, and Josh Addo-Carr, shared footage of Hayne sprinting on the football field.
“You thought it was over!!! You have no idea what Jarryd Hayne is about to do,” Fabri captioned his post.
Hayne, who was released from prison on June 12 after his convictions were overturned, had spent over a year behind bars after being found guilty by a jury in April 2023 on two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
The ruling by the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal concluded a six-year ordeal that saw the two-time Dally M winner undergo three trials related to allegations of rape on NRL grand final night 2018 in Newcastle.
Since regaining his freedom, Hayne has maintained a low profile as he adjusts back to family life.
In his prime, he earned a million-dollar salary alongside numerous sponsorship deals during his illustrious football career.
Jarryd Hayne (depicted in 2018 while playing for the Eels) may be preparing for a return to professional sports following a training video in Sydney
Hayne was emotional as sexual assault charges against him were officially dropped
However, Hayne is now a different person compared to when he was predicted in 2015 to be Australia’s highest-paid athlete.
His legal troubles have severely impacted his finances, which have been depleted by years of legal expenses, compounded by an incident where he was allegedly defrauded of $780,000 in a Bitcoin scam by another inmate.
It’s uncertain what direction Hayne will take next, but public relations expert Lyall Mercer expressed that it’s unfortunate we live in a time where one’s reputation is shaped by social media speculation rather than truth.
“Everyone deserves due process, and Jarryd has undergone the legal process, which has ultimately concluded that he is still presumed innocent until proven guilty,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
“If there is no retrial, he will remain innocent, regardless of public opinion.”
“Jarryd faces a long road ahead to restore his reputation, which has been tarnished.”
Hayne is seen with his wife Amellia Bonnici on their engagement day
The future plans of the former footy star remain uncertain
Mr. Mercer highlighted that the NRL, where Hayne was honored with the Dally M medal twice for player of the year, has numerous players who have faced legal issues yet have been given opportunities to redeem their names.
“It would be hypocritical for them (the NRL) to treat Jarryd any differently, especially since he has not been convicted at this point, and they should offer him support and welcome him back into the community,” Mercer stated.
Whether this support materializes remains to be seen.
Both the NRL and Hayne’s former team, the Parramatta Eels, have stayed quiet regarding him since late 2018 when he first faced sexual assault charges.
Hayne, an iconic player for the Eels, was not referenced at all during the club’s 75th anniversary celebrations in April 2022 while he awaited his third trial.
