Jarryd Hayne's American NFL dream has become a reality with the former Australia rugby league international making the San Francisco 49ers' 53-man roster.
San Francisco 49ers Jarryd Hayne (38) during an NFL preseason game between the San Francisco 49ers and the San Diego Chargers, 2015. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The former NSW and Kangaroos star, who just months ago had to tuck a piece of paper with NFL plays into his pants so he knew what to do on the practice field, announced this morning via Twitter that he survived the final cut.
Playing primarily as a running back and punt returner, Hayne made the cut after a slew of impressive performances in the preseason in which he finished with the second-most rushing yards of any player in the league.
The former NRL star made the first cut on Tuesday, when the squad was reduced from 85 to 75, and is now a member of one of the most storied franchises in NFL history.
Hayne announced he had mad the squad via Twitter, 24 minutes after the 8am (NZ time) deadline for final roster submissions had passed.
"It always works out! Thank God for what he has done and going to do on this incredible journey!! I'm on the 53-man roster for the 49ers," Hayne tweeted.
Hayne will get his first chance to impress in the NFL proper when San Francisco opens its season at Levis Stadium on September 15 against the Minnesota Vikings, if of course he's picked for the game, with only 46 of the 53 man squad selected to play.
The 49ers have five Super Bowl trophies in their cabinet, the second-best tally of any team in the league, with the most recent coming in 1995.
Last October, Hayne rejected a lucrative five-year contract extension with the Parramatta Eels in the (Australian) National Rugby League competition.
He twice was named the competition's Player of the Year, the equivalent of the Most Valuable Player.
Instead, the 27-year-old decided to try the difficult switch to NFL, a transition that very few have made successfully.
He was the second leading rusher in the preseason.
His 175 yards on the ground were only eight shy of leader Zach Zenner of the Detroit Lions.
Hayne also was third among punt returners with 163 yards on 10 punts fielded.
He closed his four-game preseason in fine fashion against the San Diego Chargers with 58 yards on 10 carries.
Hayne also caught a pair of passes for 17 yards and raised eyebrows with a 28-yard punt return.
Another highlight was when he steamrolled over Chargers defensive back Lowell Rose at the end of a 12-yard catch in the third quarter.
Hayne called his final pre-season game against the San Diego Chargers his most complete for the 49ers.
He totalled a game-high 58 rushing yards in the 14-12 win, while showing off his versatility with 10 carries, two pass catches and three punt returns, as well as a scything rugby league-style tackle in defence.
