Cobargo boy and Gold Coast Titans forward Morgan Boyle found out about the Queensland club signing Jarryd Hayne about the same time as footy fans.
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“It was all pretty hush hush and they kept it quiet behind closed doors,” Boyle said on Wednesday.
As part of the NYC squad, Boyle will miss the rest of the season injured, but will get the chance to work with Hayne as part of the top grade training squad.
“He’ll be able to show off what he’s done and the different things he’s learned from the NFL or the rugby sevens, but the excitement will die down quickly,” Boyle said of the record-breaking contract.
“You just adapt to your surroundings and there will be a lot of hype in the first couple of weeks, but we’ll get on with the job after that.”
Speaking of his experiences training with the Telstra Premiership team, Boyle said you needed the energy to match the top players.
“You’ve really got to match their level because you either want to be there or you don’t and you can’t let your team-mates down,” he said.
“It’s a pretty hectic training regime and it’s really ramped up.”
Even from a young age Boyle has always been tuned to the front lines standing just shy of two metres and weighing in around 110kg, genuine prop territory.
However, since hitting the track with the top team – who sit seventh on the NRL ladder – he’s packed on seven more kilos of muscle and is working hard.
“They’re always at us about the one per centers and getting the little things right,” he said.
“I’m not rushing to get a [NRL] spot, but just want to train hard and keep playing good footy.”
Boyle said it would be good to work with Hayne in the pre-season, but his whole experience at the Titans had began as surreal.
“We were talking about it and I was just like ‘no way, that’s too far’,” he said.
“But when I moved up here it was almost like a fresh start.”
His family forms part of Canberra league royalty, but are little-known in the country’s northern reaches and Boyle said there was no weight of expectation on his shoulders.
“Only the coach and about two other guys knew I was the son of David Boyle so I don’t have to live up to any expectations and I don’t play the same position anyway,” he said.
“If I do get to make my NRL debut I know it will be brought up and they’ll compare us, but I’m just preparing for a tough season and want to keep playing good footy.”
Hayne is expected to play as early as this weekend, but will start on the bench against the New Zealand Warriors.