UPDATE: HE has risen from Sydney’s golden west to the Golden Gate.

In one Australian sports most astonishing stories, former Parramatta superstar Jarryd Hayne on Tuesday did what most thought impossible — he announced he would sign an NFL contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

“It’s about believing in making the impossible possible,” Hayne told a packed media conference. “It is one thing talking about it, another doing it.”

News_Image_File: Jarryd Hayne announces he has signed with San Francisco 49ers.

Hayne has agreed to a futures contract for a guaranteed $100,000. Others suitors did not issue to the same financial guarantees.

The 27-year-old will join a 90-man practice squad before it is culled to a 53-man roster in August.

Step one though has now been achieved. He will leave for the US in a fortnight and start training with the 49ers on April 10.

Hayne will be viewed as a running back but is willing to experiment in other positions like punt return or kick-off return.

San Francisco entered negotiations late with Hayne close to joining Detroit Lions. He also spoke with the Seattle Seahawks.

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Hayne tipped towards San Francisco after becoming friendly with new 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula.

“It’s a small step in my dream becoming a reality,” Hayne said. “It’s been tough, when you pioneer something, you don’t really know what to do.

“For me, just making this decision and stepping out, I feel like I have already won.

“I have already accomplished movement in myself. Whatever happens from here is a bonus.”

"Mentally I'm ready for anything, this is a massive leap of faith and I believe it's in the right direction" Jarryd Hayne

Hayne

News_Rich_Media: We waited more than four months but finally Jarryd Hayne has a new home. The former Parramatta captain surprised the sporting world by signing with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. Steve Hart caught up with the man after his announcement.

Asked what he would deem success, Hayne said: “Success has already been done by making this decision. And to stand up and chase what I believe is in my heart.

“That is success for me. I am more worried about sacrifice than I am success.”

Pressed on whether he could be bullied by players in the US, Hayne said: “I am a big boy. I have been bullied before and I am still kicking.

“At the end of the day it’s a matter of you really wanting to do it. It’s not about talent or the physique of an athlete.

“I have wanted this for two years. I will go over there, train hard and get my head around the playbook.”

Asked did he have a fallback plan, Hayne said: “No, not really.”

"You have to be all in, I have all my chips on the table, I have no back up plan" Jarryd Hayne

At Tuesday’s press conference, Hayne spoke repeatedly about God, the former Eels star a devout member of the Hillsong Church faith.

“I believe in a God that can make the impossible possible,” he said. “I am the worst Christian I know. I’m not perfect — I struggle with sin and temptation all the time. They are keys areas where I want to improve. Christ comes before everything. I ticked every single box I could here. I helped Parra climb back from the bottom. I faced dark days getting two wooden spoons. And still I was praying to God.”

Even yesterday Hayne still had his critics on social media.

Former Australian NFL star Colin Scotts said: “His image has just gone global now. It is a great and proud day for any Australian who follows sport. Our greatest rugby league players has just been picked up by the San Francisco 49ers without even playing a snap of gridiron. Amazing accomplishment.”

Hayne’s Australian agent, Wayne Beavis, said his client never harboured any reservations since making the announcement five months ago.

“I said to Jarryd when we first started that he was a shark in a swimming pool here but a tadpole in the ocean over there,” Beavis said. “It’s a massive financial and personal gamble.”

Hayne said he hoped to attend tomorrow night’s NRL match between Parramatta and Manly at Pirtek Stadium.

News_Rich_Media: The 49ers missed the NFL playoffs last season after being one of the best teams in the league for the previous 3 seasons. So what do they think of the Hayne announcement in San Francisco? Here's 49ers Insider Matt Maiocco.

Originally published as Hayne’s surprising NFL choice