Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne has been approached to made a surprise comeback six years after he last ran onto a footy field at the top level.
Fiji national coach and former NRL player Wise Kativerata hopes the 36-year-old will make a decision before the island nation competes in the Pacific Bowl tournament in November.
The two-time Dally M Medal winner hasn’t played a game since 2018 while he faced sexual assault allegations.
Hayne was initially found guilty but had the allegations quashed on appeal in June, leading to him walking from prison a free man.
The Fiji coach said the ‘door is open for him if he wants to join’ after fitness concerns were struck down by leading sprint trainer Roger Fabri.
“He (Hayne) is fit but we are just waiting on his decision if he is interested, which will be a boost for the team,” Kativerata told the Daily Telegraph.
Fabri described Hayne as an ‘elite athlete’ who can never be disregarded if he ‘puts his mind to something’.
“When Jarryd applies himself, he will never stray, he has proven it time and time again. He did the unthinkable by making an NFL roster,” he said.
Fiji will play against Papua New Guinea and Cook Islands in Tests to be played in Fiji and Port Moresby.
The final will be played at Sydney’s Commbank Stadium on 10 November.
But even if Hayne does agree to play, it’s not a guaranteed deal.
The Australian Rugby League Commission still needs to approve the deal, despite Hayne not being a contracted player.
The issue will be discussed if Hayne is selected.
Born to a Fijian father, Hayne scored five tries in 10 games for Fiji as a dual citizen during the 2008 and 2017 World Cups.
Hayne’s career came to an end in 2018 after sexual assault allegations were levelled against him and land him in prison for two years before being released on appeal
He represented Australia at the 2013 World Cup, scoring three times and assisting twice in a 64–0 win over Fiji.
Australia would go on to win the final against New Zealand with Hayne setting up another two tries and was crowned joint player’s player alongside Johnathon Thurston.
His career ended after the 2018 NRL season ended as Parramatta refused to offer him a contract after the sexual assault allegations were raised.
Hayne was however honoured the year after after a panel of premiership coaches and hallof fame players voted him onto the ‘team of the decade’ for the 2010s.
