NRL 2023: Jarryd Hayne to appeal sexual assault conviction | Saint, Sinner, Shoosh

In May, Hayne was sentenced to four years and nine months behind bars after being found guilty of two counts of sexual intercourse with a woman without consent, stemming from an incident on NRL grand final night in 2018. It was his third trial.

He is serving his time in the same jail as former Manly Sea Eagles player Manase Fainu — who was last year found guilty of stabbing a youth leader outside a Mormon church dance — at the Geoffrey Pearce Correctional Centre.

Hayne is estimated to have spent more than $2m on three trials and appeals. He has sold property assets to pay his legal bills.

His lawyer, Margaret Cunneen SC, is preparing the fresh appeal.

“It is on the grounds of an unreasonable and unjustifiable verdict not supported by the evidence,” Cunneen said.

The NRL is closely monitoring Hayne’s legal moves in regards to his position on the Dally M Medal honour roll. Hayne won the award in 2009 and 2014.

If he fails to overturn his conviction once all legal avenues have been exhausted, the NRL is expected to strip him of the awards.

BIZARRE KISS EMOJI ADDS TO PENRITH-GOULD AFFAIR

Right on full-time on Friday night, as the Penrith Panthers completed a 38-4 demolition of Melbourne Storm, your columnist received an unusual text message from the club’s former chairman Dave O’Neill.

No words — just an emoji of a kissing heart. According to Google, it conveys feelings of love and affection.

O’Neill is rightly proud of the role he played to build the Panthers into a premiership giant.

It was he who brought super coach Ivan Cleary back to Penrith in 2019. Cleary was sacked by Panthers general manager Phil Gould in 2015 for Anthony Griffin. He was apparently tired. It will go down as one of the greatest administrative blunders in league history.

Three years later Gould sacked Griffin and tried to sign Wayne Bennett. O’Neill overruled him and brought back Cleary.

Gould resigned in protest … and the rest is history.

SAINT

Penrith might’ve been busy preparing for a historic shot at a three-peat last week but it didn’t stop Tyrone Peachey from organising a bus full of his teammates, including star Nathan Cleary, from visiting the home of seven-year-old Panthers fan Thomas, who was recently diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, which is the worst form of aggressive brain tumour. The visit was part of Peachey’s community business he runs with his wife that supports Indigenous Australians.

SINNER

Ben Hunt earns $1m a year from St George Illawarra. He said during the week, in regards to his future, “Honestly, (the Dragons) are not my first choice”. This is the club captain speaking. It’s a terrible comment.

I received a short and sharp email from a long-time, long-suffering Saints fan. “Piss him off and use the $$$ to start rebuilding.” It sums up the feelings of a growing number of Dragons fans who are completely over him.

SHOOSH

Canberra is on the verge of signing Manly utility star Kaeo Weekes on a three-year deal, with the money freed up from the retirement of Jarrod Croker and the departure of Jack Wighton.

SHOOSH

Not all the love is lost between the Wests Tigers and axed assistant coach Dave Furner. Tigers chairman and lawyer Lee Hagipantelis recently acted for Furner’s wife, Kellie, when she was awarded $1.5m in damages after a fall.

SPOTTED

Canterbury Bulldogs major sponsor and billionaire hotel tycoon Arthur Laundy having lunch at Totti’s in Rozelle, a restaurant and pub owned by his arch rival Justin Hemmes.

SPOTTED

Sea Eagles legends Ken Arthurson, Des Hasler and Peter Peters having a coffee on the northern beaches. Arko turns 94 on grand final day. Hasler has given the great man an open invitation to watch the Titans from his coaching box next season.

SPOTTED

Their seasons might be over but Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Jack Wighton are doing great things in the community. They have visited schools in Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke and Kempsey in recent weeks to support Fight For Success — a police initiative aimed at tackling mental health and crime issues.

MAL’S UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Mal Meninga’s contract at the Gold Coast Titans expires in November and his future is uncertain.

The rugby league Immortal joined the club in 2018 as a head of performance and culture at a time when the club was struggling under coach Garth Brennan.

Now the Titans have a premiership-winning coach in Des Hasler, an old teammate of Meninga’s on the 1990 Kangaroo tour. They remain good friends.

Meninga had a falling out with the Titans management earlier this year when he was not consulted over the decision to sack Justin Holbrook. He will have talks with the club once he finishes with his Kangaroos commitments next month.

Meninga has not ruled out a possible role with a future expansion franchise as a figurehead in a similar role to what Wayne Bennett has done with the Dolphins.

“I don’t think you should totally rule anything out,” he said. “I love coaching and the job I have with the Kangaroos.”

Asked about having a role in expansion as a figurehead with the NRL’s 18th team, Mal said: “Yeah, I’d love to do something like that. It would excite me. As someone who loves the game it’s definitely something I’d consider.

“I won’t leave any door closed. You look at the terrific job Wayne’s (Bennett) has done. It’s important at a foundation club.”

LOYALTY QUESTIONED OVER CONTRACT SAGA

St George Dragons legends have spoken out over million-dollar captain Ben Hunt and his stubborn reluctance to fully commit to the club.

Hunt last week said playing for St George Illawarra is “honestly, not my first choice” and “I would prefer to come back home” to Queensland.

His comments have sparked an angry backlash from Dragons fans and former players.

Graeme Wynn, a former Origin second-rower who played 199 games for the club, says he is disappointed over the remarks.

“Ben’s captaining one of the most recognised rugby league clubs in the world — and that’s a privilege,” Wynn said.

“Once you give your word it’s your word. I never had a contract, just a handshake.

“That’s me coming from the country and the way I was brought up.

“Flanno needs everyone committed and on the same page. Ben’s got to work it out.”

Wynn spoke of the great Billy Smith – a champion halfback over 16 years at the club.

“Billy’s now in a nursing home,” Wynn said.

“He gave his heart and soul to the club. All the great players did.”

Former Maroons Origin and Dragons centre Mark Coyne is one of the more considered voices in the game. He never criticises anyone.

On Hunt he says: “Ben’s obviously frustrated where’s he’s at. He’s got a personal life and a family.

“But I find his statements odd. It’s not great for a club when your captain is saying he potentially doesn’t want to be there.

“It must be confusing and hard for the players to hear their captain say he wants to be somewhere else.

“Flanno is there now and he’s going to see a real positive change. Ben’s our best player and I’m hopeful it gives him confidence the club is turning things around.”

Coach Shane Flanagan remains adamant Hunt is staying.

“Ben will be here next year, he’s confirmed that,” Flanagan said. “He’s got a contract at the Dragons — and we need him.

“Ben will work hard and be ready for next year.”

MATT KING TO JOIN FREDDY’S BLUES

Sydney Roosters assistant coach Matt King has emerged as the man to help State of Origin coach Brad Fittler fix the NSW Blues following the departure of key staff members.

Greg Alexander, Andrew Johns and Paul McGregor will all be stepping aside as a result of NSW losing the last two years to the Maroons.

Fighting to save his job, Fittler had to make coaching staff changes.

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King is a highly regarded assistant coach.

He has stepped up into a more senior role at the Roosters since the departure of Craig Fitzgibbon to the Sharks and Jason Ryles to the Storm.

His name was included in a proposal Fittler put to the NSWRL board on Friday.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Jarryd Hayne to appeal sexual assault conviction | Saint, Sinner, Shoosh