FASTFACT

Former Wallabies coach John Connolly said of Hayne that he'd been kissed by God. Few would argue. He has established himself as the NRL's most exciting player and he has speed to burn. He won the 2009 Dally M medal as the code's best player and has only improved. Between Rounds 19 and 24 of the '09 season he won six consecutive man-of-the-match awards. A proven match-winner, fans climb to their feet whenever he has the ball while the opposition's heart-rates increase dramatically. Hayne was a junior athletic champion who showed wonderful potential as a sprinter and hurdler. He nominates Olympian Matt Shirvington as his childhood hero.