Lessons Learned: Hayne #38

I was never a big fan of Jarrad Hayne as a rugby league player. I know he was good, but there was something about him that just didn't do it for me. Maybe it was just that he played for NSW.

However, the evidence shows that I was wrong. He played for his country  - actually two of them, Australia and Fiji. He played 20 State of Origin matches. He drove his team to a near fairytale premiership in 2009, only to be denied by Melbourne Storm. 

In 2014 he won the second of his Dally M player of the year medals. He was recognised as the most influential player in the game by winning this prestigious award. 

However only two weeks later, he had announced that, at the age of 26, he was going to quit Rugby League, and try to make it in the NFL.

The fog makes it difficult to see what's ahead some times in San FRANCISCO

The 2015 NFL preseason rolled around and Hayne linked with the San Francisco 49s, one of the most recognisable sporting teams in the world. Hayne needed to do a lot of work to even make it into the playing roster, let alone make a career in the NFL. He had the raw talent, but this was not his native sport, he didn't have the same physique as his potential team mates, and he needed to learn the nuances and specifics of playing American Football that you don't learn from watching games on ESPN.

Hayne did the work. He learned how to run differently. He learned the team plays. He learned what it took to make the big time.  Some great individual plays in the trial games not only got him into the final 53 man roster, but also ensured that he was known in the media. Even if they referred to his previous sport as "Rugby".

While he has had moderate success in the early stages of the season, which is not unexpected, he has successfully transitioned from being the best Rugby League player in the NRL to a starting (in at least 1 match) NFL player within the space of 12 months. He has since been cut from the main roster, but remains in the training squad.

What can we learn from Hayne's transition between sports?

Take risks, but plan them well.

Hayne took a big risk by changing sports. He was on the verge of some large pay packets, but the lure to fulfil his dream won out. This was not a spur of the moment decision. He had first approached various people to sound out the idea of the move a number of years earlier to understand what the NFL lifestyle was like and to understand what he needed to do to make the transition. Building his contacts and turning his mind to the next move no doubt helped him get in front of the right people and allowed him to show them that he had the right capabilities.  

When you make a decision, stick to it and play it hard

Once Hayne made the decision, he needed to work hard to achieve his first goal - making the team. His natural talent allowed him to be considered but it was his hard work that allowed him to change his physique, his running style and learn how to play the game allowed him to put his case forward. The ability to go hard in a new environment is very challenging. The mental toughness, dedication and persistence required by Hayne in this process is to be admired.

Trust your expertise, even if it is out of place

Hayne has put on some impressive plays at the start of his career. Stepping through  a staggered defence and bumping off players was his bread and butter in the NRL, but is not the normal approach for a punt return or running back in the NFL. He has impressed by playing to his strengths and this may make him stand out as his career develops. The need to adapt to the new environment is critical, but by bringing some of what makes you special will help you succeed over time.