Hayne's guns for glory

The Sun - Saturday, October 31, 2009 3:24 PM

"This time last year, I was staying in an army camp with Fiji, now I'm here in a five-star hotel. That trip made me as a player and as a man.

JARRYD HAYNE could become the best rugby league player ever - but his life almost ended in a hail of gunfire.

The Australia star, 21, was SHOT at as he left a Sydney nightclub in March.

It proved a turning point as he found God and has not looked back after playing in the World Cup for Fiji last year.

Hayne, who qualifies for Oz on residency grounds, said: "The shooting opened my eyes. It took me a year to settle down. Then I was called up for Fiji.

"I watched one of the highlight videos the other night and I shed a tear because it made me appreciate so many things.

"This time last year, I was staying in an army camp with Fiji, now I'm here in a five-star hotel. That trip made me as a player and as a man.

"Religion also helps me focus. I've got a gift and I've got to use it instead of abusing it. You can get caught up in that rock 'n roll lifestyle, thinking, 'I play footy to go out and I party to have fun.'

"For the first couple of years, I was abusing it but this year I put my best foot forward."

League legend Andrew Johns says Parramatta ace Hayne, whose dad Manoa Thompson played for Warrington, could become the best player ever.

However Hayne fears a Pom plot to oust the Aussies from the final should they lose today, leaving them needing a big win in France and an England victory over New Zealand.

He added: "If we lose this game, we're out."

ENGLAND: S Briscoe; T Briscoe, Shenton, Smith, Hall; McGuire, Tomkins; Morley, Roby, Graham, Ellis, Peacock, Sinfield. Interchange: Eastmond, Crabtree, Burgess, Westwood.
AUSTRALIA: Slater; B Morris, Inglis, Hodges, Hayne; Lockyer, Thurston; Hannant, Smith, Civoniceva, Watmough, Gallen, Hindmarsh. Interchange: White, Shillington, Lewis, Farah.