Haynemania has the National Rugby League considering a return to California -- 28 years after "the disaster that was Peter Sterling and the unbreakable Origin banner," according to Nick Walshaw of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. NRL CEO Dave Smith and Head of Football Todd Greenberg both gave "strong indications the governing body is again looking to America as a potential target market" as the hype surrounding Jarryd Hayne of the NFL San Francisco 49ers intensifies. Greenberg said that Hayne's signing with the 49ers meant there was now reason to consider taking a game "back to California." Greenberg: "The NRL is always looking to grow the game and showcase it where opportunities arise. Naturally, we'd look at any option to take the game to the United States, especially given the current interest in our game." Smith also "lent his heavyweight support to the code's potential growth Stateside," adding, "The Rugby League International board, of which I'm deputy chairman, is looking at expansion markets ... and the USA is one of the significant target markets." Greenberg stressed "a number of factors would need to be considered" with any U.S. return -- specifically a "mandatory off-season break for players, insurance and the impact on scheduling." Yet he also revealed that, "while the NRL had not yet reached out to the NFL, there may be scope to use Hayne for marketing purposes in the future." Last week, David Niu, the founder of rugby league in America, urged the NRL to "get themselves ahead of Haynemania -- or risk having it hijacked by the NFL." Niu: "The publicity and exposure Jarryd Hayne could generate for rugby league, it's immeasurable. Think about it" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 9/9).
