Former rugby league star Jarryd Hayne had a debut to forget in the NFL as he dropped his first punt return for the San Francisco 49ers.
The 27-year-old Australian has made the headlines this off-season after switching from NRL side Parramatta Eels to move to the United States and attempt to forge a career in the NFL. A promising pre-season suggested that Hayne was going to be a major success, and he was included in the 49ers finals 53-man squad for the 2015/16 season.
Fans in San Francisco – and the world over – have quickly taken to his nickname the “Hayne Plane”, but he was well and truly grounded when he received his first touch of the ball in Monday night’s season-opener against Minnesota Vikings.
But maybe all that anticipation of what Hayne could do went to his head. When his moment to shine came, he fumbled the ball and lost possession.
Former rugby league star @JarrydHayne_1 muffs first regular season punt return in the NFL. #MINvsSF http://t.co/914x3mKtM6
; NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2015
Credit to Hayne, he recovered quickly despite handing the Vikings the ball and became a prominent figure in the 49ers offence as he offered quarter-back Colin Kaepernick a safe option when he was in trouble.
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It was here that Hayne was able to show his incredible footwork to beat his opponent with a simple sidestep before pressing on up-field.
Yo, nice bounce back after the fumble, @jarrydhayne_1! pic.twitter.com/PkbhKnw02C
; Danny Sylva (@DSilv3R) September 15, 2015
San Francisco went on to see off the Vikings by a comfortable 20-3, with rookie running-back Carlos Hyde scoring two touchdowns to help new coach Jim Tomsula begin his reign with victory.
Jarryd Hayne fumbles the ball on his first touch in the NFL
The match also saw Vikings running-back Adrian Peterson return after more than a year out of the game following paid leave and suspension following the fallout from a child abuse case against him in Texas in 2014.
