Jarryd Hayne’s new footy team are caught on video in BIZARRE act involving female stars after the ex-NRL great joined the coaching staff
- The Fiji team prepares for the Pacific Championships tournament
- Hayne now works as a mentor with the national team
Jarryd Hayne’s Fijian men’s rugby league team have held a bizarre training session against the Tongan women’s side as they prepare for the Pacific Championships.
Fiji Bati appeared in a video clip on social media showing them training at Albert Park in Suva where they held a counter session with the much smaller Tongan women.
Opposing sessions are game simulations that are not fully addressed – and the unorthodox head-to-head idea was reportedly suggested by the Tongan coaching staff, with both sides later saying it was worth it.
“Obviously it’s a bit weird, but it was really good,” Bulldogs and Fiji star Viliame Kikau said News Corp.
“The Tongan coach said we had to go hard, tackle and get some time on the ground.
‘She [the Tongan women] were really good speakers and were loud throughout the session. They helped us a little bit and hopefully we helped them prepare for this weekend.”
Tonga co-captain Natasha Penitani was very impressed with the experience.
“It was really great for the guys to have us have a counter session against them,” she said.
Jarryd Hayne’s Fijian rugby league team held a bizarre training session simulating a match against the Tongan women’s team
The Fijian men (pictured) said the highly unusual opposition session was worth it and praised the Tongan stars for helping them prepare for the Pacific Championships.
‘We were kind of thrown in at the deep end [end] and it was a huge adjustment.
“It doesn’t help when they’re twice our size… there’s no mercy here, no surrender. You could see they started off a little cautiously, and then Kelvin [Wright, Tonga coach] They basically said they had to intervene, so they actually did.”
Hayne, 36, has been invited to the camp to mentor the squad just four months after he was released from prison when his rape conviction was overturned.
The former Parramatta Eels star made 120 appearances for Fiji from 2008 to 2018 and also made five appearances for the Sevens national rugby team. He described his new position on Monday as “great.”
“On the way to the airport yesterday, watching that documentary from ’08 [Rugby League World Cup] team following us in the village, it has been a long journey… 16 to 17 years,” he said.
‘From barracks to now we are in five-star hotels. We’ve come a long way. It’s always good to reminisce.’
Fiji coach Wise Kativerata contacted Hayne after he was released from prison and the appointment developed from there.
“I called him to talk to him and see how he was doing,” Kativerata told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“I wanted to make sure he was okay. He was happy to hear from us.
Fijians will take on Papua New Guinea for the first time in the tournament on Saturday evening at 7.10pm
‘After a while I told him about the rugby league in Fiji and how it really needed a lift.
“Then I asked him to come along and help with the team because I knew it would be good for him and for us.
“At first he thought I was joking.”
The NRL has approved Hayne’s employment with the team.
Fiji’s first match is against Papua New Guinea on Saturday evening at 7.10pm.