National Rugby League side Parramatta player Jarryd Hayne will visit the reigning NFL Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks "as part of a new blueprint
aimed at switching Parramatta from NRL laughing stock to Australia's
most successful sports logo," according to Nick Walshaw of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. Enjoying a "stunning resurgence on the field" in '14, Parramatta is also "making some major advancements off it" -- with figures from Repucom "showing their number of 'passionate fans'
across Australia has climbed to 550,000." The club has earned record membership (20,086), while "also enjoying" a 170% increase on merchandise sales, 158% on gameday takings and the "online store doubling its monthly average." While "much of this success can be attributed to a side gunning for a shock finals berth," Eels CEO Scott Seward also credits a "radical front-office overhaul which has involved consulting the likes of Collingwood, Cricket Australia," and even the Seahawks. Seward confirmed it was now "very likely" that coach Brad Arthur, Hayne
and "several other senior players would undertake a study tour of the NFL
heavyweights over summer." Seward said of Hayne's trip, "Because our goal is
to become the best sporting organization in Australia" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 8/28).
