KANGAROOS coach Mal Meninga is maintaining a “wait and see” approach to Jarryd Hayne’s chances of returning to Test football, after the ex-NFL star made his return to rugby league with the Gold Coast Titans.

The Titans scored the biggest signing coup in the club’s history with the announcement two-time Dally M winner Hayne would play for the Gold Coast for the remainder of 2016 through to the end of 2018.

Hayne’s Titans deal dominated the news media in the week leading up to his debut against the Warriors, giving the Gold Coast the kind of exposure they have only been able to dream of over a terrible past five seasons.

But the former Parramatta star was not just all about the hype, producing a number of classy touches in attack and defence for the Titans in an impressive first game despite their loss to the Warriors.

Even before he took the field, Hayne’s name was being thrown around as a contender for the end-of-season Four Nations tournament, and for next year’s NSW State of Origin team.

Meninga though feels people should just let Hayne get back into his rhythm before loading him up with the pressure of making representative teams.

“I think it has been a really good story for rugby league, and for the Titans in particular, that Jarryd has decided to come back to the NRL,” Mal said.

“We all know what a terrific player he was with Parramatta, and certainly there were some touches in his first game back that made you think – when he is fully fit and working in combination with his teammates – the Titans could have an incredible buy on their hands.

“But I think people are getting ahead of themselves saying Jarryd will walk back into the Test team or the Blues team.

“I think we all just need to give him a bit of time and space to reacquaint himself with the game and let him go at his own pace.

“With all the interest and pressure on him, I think he has enough on his plate at the moment without worrying about what may or may not happen months or years down the track.

“I am certain those types of things would not have even entered Jarryd’s head yet. All he would be worried about is working hard on becoming a rugby league player again, and fitting into the Titans’ set-up.

“And I absolutely think that is fair enough. It is a great story, and we are all watching on with interest – just like we did when Jarryd went to the NFL.

“But it is unfair to expect him to flick a switch and go back to being the player he was at Parramatta. He hasn’t played in the NRL for two years, and that is a long time away.

“Hopefully he will get back to that level, and be a star for the Titans. But I think people need to get off his back a little and give him some time to find his feet again.”