So, Jarryd Hayne is leaving the NRL to try his luck in the NFL. Wow! I bet you didn't see that one coming?

I've been in and around this game for a long time now. Very few things surprise me any more. But this, my friends; this is no "run-of-the-mill" rugby league story. This is incredible. In fact, it's almost unbelievable. One of the biggest names in our game is walking out the door to try his luck in a totally foreign environment, right when he was about to enter the prime time in his career in this code.

Let me just repeat that last statement for effect. For all he has achieved in rugby league to date, I believe Jarryd Hayne, at 26 years of age, was about to enter the prime period in his rugby league career. I firmly his best football was still in front of him. Earlier this season I declared if Hayne decided it was time for NSW to end their eight season State of Origin losing sequence, then NSW would be winning this year. The result? NSW wins and Hayne is the player of the series.

This is a young man, who from the age of 15, has been just about first picked in every rugby league team he's ever represented. Yet Hayne has now said his goodbyes and he's off to the USA, with no contract in place and no guarantees of an opportunity. He will be totally out of his comfort zone. He will simply be another young man, among thousands of talented young athletes, all hoping for a break into big time NFL football. So why? Perhaps we didn't see it coming; but the man who knows him best, his manager Wayne Beavis, could feel something brewing as far back as a couple of years ago.

At the time he was coming off contract and Parramatta tabled an extremely lucrative four-year deal that would make him the highest player in the game. This money would potentially set him up for life. Pleased with his negotiation, Beavis proudly presented the offer to Hayne, to which he replied, "I will only sign for two more years. I have a feeling I might not be here after that".

Beavis wasn't sure if he meant Parramatta or the NRL. Twelve months ago his thinking became clearer when he revealed to his manager, in strict confidence, that he has always had the dream of playing in the NFL. In fact, he was almost ready to make this decision at the end of last season. The Eels, under new coach Ricky Stuart, had just finished in the wooden spoon position. Hayne was ready to walk. However, he had been vocal in his support of Brad Arthur getting the job after Stuart resigned and he felt he should stay around to assist in Parramatta's revival.

Well, he certainly did his part. Hayne's scintillating 2014 form lifted the Eels out of the cellar and into finals contention. They wouldn't have done it without him. We all know that much.

When the season ended Hayne took a September holiday to the USA and visited the NFL franchise of the Seattle Seahawks. It reinvigorated the dream in him to be a part of this game. When he returned home from holidays his demeanour had changed. He was restless. Beavis sensed something was coming. Last Thursday Hayne phoned his manager and requested a coffee together. Hayne dropped the thunderbolt – "I want to quit the NRL and go try out for the NFL".

Beavis said that with 99.99 per cent of players, he would've dragged them into a corner and tried to beat some sense into them. He simply asked, "Mate do you want me to try and talk you out of this?"

Hayne's response was positive. This is what he really wanted to do. Beavis now says, "Jarryd is a very special kid. He is not like other players. If this is what he wants to do, then I support him chasing his dreams 100 per cent."

Hayne explained to Beavis that when he was a youngster playing in the juniors, all he wanted was to play in the NRL. He achieved that goal at 18. He has now played 176 NRL matches. When Hayne became aware of the kind of money he could earn playing professional football, his next goal was to buy his mother a new home. Mission accomplished. Actually he now has a very healthy property portfolio.

Of course there were other goals. Play in a grand final. Tick. Play for NSW. Tick. Play for Australia. Tick. Win an Origin series with the Blues. It took a few years, but eventually, tick. Throw in a few more remarkable milestones along the way — Dally M Rookie of the Year 2006, Dally M Winger of the Year 2007, Australian Prime Minister's XIII 2006, 2008 and 2013, Dally M Player of the Year 2009, 2014; Dally M Fullback of the Year 2009, 2014; RLIF Player of the Year 2009; RLIF Fullback of the Year 2009, Ken Thornett Medal (Eels players' player), winner 2009, 2010. 2014 Represented NRL All Stars 2010, 2013. Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick.

You consider all these achievements and you look at his current age and you wonder just how many more records were possible with his extraordinary talents.

But here's the thing. Every time Hayne achieved a milestone, every time he climbed a mountain, he would look around and think, "Is that all there is?" The glory was fleeting. The feelings of accomplishment never lasted. Something was missing. Don't get me wrong. Hayne loves rugby league. He loves the Parramatta Eels, the fans, the game and the thrills. But deep down it's not been enough. He needs a new challenge. He wants to do something for himself. To be pushed out of his comfort zone, in a game where he is not the next big thing, to test himself as an athlete and to improve himself as a person.

This decision is not about the money. Hayne has money. It is not about being sick of the game. Nothing could be further from the truth. He would love to be playing for Australia in the Four Nations series about to start.

This is about a young man believing he has achieved all he can in one sport, and looking for a challenge to conquer another. Hayne wants to follow his dream and to prove something to himself, for himself; no one else.

I don't know what it says about our game of rugby league. There is no doubting it's the big show here in this part of the world. Sam Burgess and SBW have now left for another code and the lure of a bigger stage. Many before these two lads have tried the rugby code as an alternative. A couple were even lured to the AFL. I don't think it's a knock on rugby league. I think it's a huge rap for the talent and strength of the athletes who play our game that they can be in such demand in other sports, and be so versatile they can play other codes.

What is does do though is reinforce the fact that rugby league needs to keep growing, expanding, developing. It needs to harness its popularity in Pacific Island Nations and eventually reach out to other corners of the globe. Not constantly looking in on itself, messing with the trivial and reacting to the odd negative. In the end though, Hayne has proven himself to be one of the best our game has ever produced. I would love to see him stay in the game, but he feels there are greater challenges ahead. Good luck to him. I hope he smashes them.