Hayne and his entourage are in Los Angeles vetting people who want to help him break into the NFL. Their priority is to surround him with a team of professionals who will guide him through the transition from rugby league superstar to all-star running back, and that may include having a chat to Kiss frontman, Gene Simmons.

David Niu, a former St George halfback who represented the US in the 1999 rugby union World Cup, said Hayne ought to consider the Arena Football League as an unconventional pathway to the big league.

Among the league's celebrity team owners are Simmons and Paul Stanley at LA Kiss. Motley Crue's Vince Neil has a stake in the Jacksonville Sharks and Las Vegas Outlaws and Jon Bon Jovi once had shares in Niu's franchise, the Philadelphia Soul. Not surprisingly, each franchise places a huge emphasis on entertainment.

Niu returned to Philadelphia from China on Tuesday after he'd established an Arena league college competition there and advised Hayne to consider it as an option because, apart from allowing him to develop a basic understanding of the sport, he'd gain another invaluable asset: a show reel.

The league's games are broadcasted by ESPN and, while the days when Arena players made $100,000 a season were gone (their minimum wage is now $775 a game), Niu said the coverage provided Hayne with a stage. "A lot of these guys need footage so the NFL guys can look at them and they're doing that," he said.

The Arena league provided Kurt Warner, who played quarterback for St Louis, the New York Giants and Arizona from 1998 to 2009, with his launching pad. Warner was stacking grocery shelves for $5.50 an hour after he was cut from the Green Bay Packers' roster. Then he joined the AFL's Iowa Barnstormers in 1995.

But Niu warned playing in the league would be tough. He was also honest enough to acknowledge it would lack the same hype of Hayne joining a NFL squad.

"From a rugby crossover standpoint it probably would be a great option to work your way through," he said. "The idea may feel to be a bit of let-down for some people in terms of them wanting him to start in the big league but [the AFL] makes good sense, it's a great opportunity for him to learn.

"There are a series of open try outs around the country and he'd certainly get a look in."

The AFL, formed in 1987, is the third oldest professional gridiron competition in North America after the NFL and Canadian League. It has 14 teams and the regular season, which runs from March to August, consists of 18 games.

It's expanding internationally. Apart from being played in China, Niu told Fairfax Media there were plans for the league to have a presence in Australia after he spoke to local American football organisations and venues that could host exhibition games.

"The game is a little bit different and, as for the position [Hayne] plays, it would be akin to Sevens rugby and 15-man rugby. While they're the same technically they are also different," said Niu.  "I'm looking forward to seeing how Jarryd goes.

"We've had NFL shows talking about rugby [league] and it's players. It's been on the tip of their tongue for a while but Jarryd has pushed it across the line and they've had to address it."

One American football heavyweight Niu could direct Hayne to was Ron Jaworski, a former quarterback for the LA Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs. He's an NFL analyst for ESPN and is a part-owner of the Philadelphia Soul.

"It's been a pleasure talking to people about Hayne and seeing their reaction when they see vision of him on YouTube," Niu said. "The common reaction is 'he really could make it'. Jarryd could be the one who changes the world and I'd love to try and help him."