Jarryd Hayne, who was awarded the Dally M Medal in 2014, may be reinstated to the Fiji Bati team after a five-year absence. This possibility was suggested by Fiji Bati head coach Wise Kativerata in a recent interview. Kativerata mentioned, “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 will also be a boost for the team.”
The announcement regarding the Bati squad for the Pacific Championships has been pushed back to next week, as the management is still working on securing player releases from their NRL clubs.
Hayne’s career began in 2006 with the Parramatta Eels, where he won the NRL’s Dally M Rookie of the Year award. He made his debut for New South Wales in the State of Origin and played internationally for Australia, transitioning primarily to the position of fullback. He won the Dally M Medal in 2009 and 2014 and was named the International Player of the Year in 2009. He represented Australia in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and played for Fiji in the 2008 and 2017 tournaments.
In 2015, Hayne gained attention when he shifted from being one of the top players in the NRL to a rookie with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL, concluding his NFL career after one season. In 2016, he played for Fiji 7s in rugby union sevens but returned to the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans before finishing his career with Parramatta in 2018. He notably led the Fiji Bati to a surprise victory over New Zealand in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
Recently, Hayne walked free from court after rape charges against him were withdrawn, and he successfully appealed his convictions earlier this month. He has faced three trials regarding the same alleged incident, with outcomes including a hung jury and an overturned guilty verdict. Hayne has maintained his innocence, asserting that the encounter with the unnamed woman in 2018 was consensual.
Kativerata is also in discussions with other NRL players interested in representing Fiji, including Mark Nawaqanitawase, Tui Kamikamica, and Api Koroisau. He expects powerful forward Viliame Kikau to join the team as well. Additionally, the Fiji National Rugby League aims to include several locally-based players from the Vodafone Cup to gain experience at the national level.
Kativerata expressed satisfaction with the team’s incorporation of younger players, mentioning names like Kitione Kautoga and Caleb Navale from last year. He emphasized that the team’s goal is to win, particularly as they prepare for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup in Australia. He praised Tui Kamikamica as a humble leader and a strong asset for the team in the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup matches.
The coach underscored the importance of being prepared to compete against Papua New Guinea, describing them as a formidable opponent. He believes it is crucial to educate and guide his team towards successful plays, utilizing the right combinations of players.