Jarryd Hayne, the 2014 Dally M winner, may make a comeback to the Fiji Bati team after a five-year absence. Fiji Bati head coach Wise Kativerata indicated this possibility in a recent interview. He stated, “The door is open for him if he wants to join. He is fit, but we are just waiting on his decision if he is interested, which would also be a boost for the team.”
The announcement of the Bati squad for the Pacific Championships has been postponed until next week, as team management is currently working on securing player releases from their respective NRL clubs.
Hayne started his rugby league career in 2006 with the Parramatta Eels, earning the NRL’s Dally M Rookie of the Year award. He debuted for New South Wales in State of Origin and both debuted internationally and transitioned to fullback in 2007. Hayne was awarded the Dally M Medal for rugby league player of the year in 2009 and 2014, and received the International Player of the Year award from the Rugby League International Federation in 2009.
He has represented Australia in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and played for Fiji in the 2008 and 2017 tournaments when he wasn’t selected for the Australian team. In 2015, he made headlines for switching from one of the top players in the NRL to a rookie with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL, but his NFL career ended after that season.
Hayne returned to rugby in 2016, representing Fiji in rugby sevens but came back to the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans after not making the Olympic squad. He had a final season with Parramatta in 2018 and achieved a notable victory for Fiji in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup by defeating New Zealand.
In June, Hayne was cleared of rape charges when they were formally withdrawn, and he won an appeal against previous convictions earlier this month. He has consistently denied the assault allegations from 2018, claiming the encounter was consensual.
Kativerata mentioned that they have been in discussions with several NRL players interested in representing Fiji, including Mark Nawaqanitawase, Tui Kamikamica, and Api Koroisau. Viliame Kikau is also anticipated to be included in the squad.
The Fiji National Rugby League plans to include more locally-based players from the Vodafone Cup to experience national competition. Kativerata expressed the team’s goal to win and build up towards the 2026 Rugby League World Cup in Australia. He acknowledged the leadership qualities of Tui Kamikamica, stating, “Tui is a humble giant. He is a good role model and a great boost for the team for the Pacific Nations Cup matches.”
He emphasized the importance of preparing the team to face Papua New Guinea, recognizing them as a formidable opponent. Kativerata is committed to educating and guiding his team toward success with the right mix of players.