Jayden Hayward is happy the Western Force coaches never saw his one and only kick at goal in New Zealand provincial rugby.
If they had, he may never have been handed the goalkicking duties at his new Australian Super Rugby franchise.
In turn, they may not have beaten the Crusaders 16-14 in Perth last weekend, when Hayward booted 11 points in a four-from-five return.
Playing out of position at fullback in his first start for the season, usual midfield back Hayward was also handed the kicking tee, with regular marksman Sias Ebersohn having made way for Sam Norton-Knight at first five-eighth.
The 26-year-old’s radar was almost faultless, unlike his sole previous effort away from club rugby. It was from a handy position during a 2011 NPC match for Taranaki against Canterbury, while teammate Jack Cameron was off the field.
“It went about 10m high and I hooked it badly. I thought that might be it for my kicking career,” he told NZ Newswire ahead of Friday’s match against the Hurricanes in Wellington.
The 26-year-old was wrong.
Following two seasons of limited service at the Hurricanes he began his two-year contract at the Force late last year by asking to be included in a training group of five goalkickers.
“I took a couple of shots, just to see how I’d go. They went all right so I put my mind to it and it started going from there,” he said.
“With goalkicking, there’s a bit of pressure on you but that’s something I enjoy.”
Hayward is unsure if he’ll remain at fullback for the long term.
He enjoyed the space and time afforded him against the Crusaders but missed the frontline defensive duties of the midfield, having watched his teammates perform heroics without the ball for long periods last Saturday.
Hawera-born Hayward hopes his Super Rugby career can kick off after making just 24 total appearances over two patchy seasons each with the Highlanders then Hurricanes.
Training and playing in the Perth heat has been the biggest change from his time in Wellington, noting a temperature drop of about 20C when crossing the Tasman this week.
He hopes another giant-killing performance is within his 12th-placed side, with their two wins this year being boilovers against the Queensland Reds and Crusaders.
“We don’t have a team full of stars. Our main message through pre-season, and still now, is to play for each other.”
