Jarryd Hayne made his long-awaited return to the rugby league field on Sunday, as the Wentworthville Magpies secured a hard-fought victory in the Ron Massey Cup.
The 37-year-old, who previously served time in prison after being convicted of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent—convictions that have since been overturned—took to the field for the Magpies and contributed with a try assist in their 22-14 triumph over the Bulldogs.
Although he had previously participated in a Nines tournament in January, Hayne was initially poised to kick off the season with Wentworthville but was sidelined by an injury during pre-season training.
Playing at five-eighth, Hayne completed the full match and, in a post-game interview with 9News Sydney at Ringrose Park, acknowledged that he definitely felt the strain of the game.
Jarryd Hayne speaks to 9News Sydney. Nine
“For the first 70 minutes, I felt good, but the last 10 really took it out of me,” he reflected.
“It was great to get through the full 80 minutes, and with a bye coming up, I’ll focus on my recovery.”
“I didn’t really miss it until about a year or two ago. The break has been good, and I’m always engaged in sport—be it touch footy, Oztag, or something else.”
“It’s fantastic to come out and play with a solid group of lads.”
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Hayne, a prominent figure in Australian sport, once shone at the State of Origin level and collected two Dally M Medals during his illustrious career with Parramatta.
He also had a stint overseas in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers.
Jarryd Hayne during his time with the Eels. Getty
When asked about the enthusiastic crowd that turned up for the third-tier match, Hayne remained grounded, emphasising that it was all about relishing the game with the Magpies.
“I truly value the support and it’s a lot of fun, but for me, it’s mainly about getting out there and enjoying footy once more,” he stated.
“I must admit, I was a bit out of practice and made a few handling errors, but it felt great to bag a try assist.”
“It’s been a journey, but the joy of winning today makes it worthwhile.”
“That’s just life, we keep pushing ahead.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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