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Disgraced NRL legend Jarryd Hayne rejects advance to play park football because he’s “a bit out of shape” after spending nine months in jail on a dropped rape charge
- Jarryd Hayne refuses to advance to play park footy
- Hayne spent nine months in jail on rape charges
- The Fallen NRL star hasn’t played soccer since 2018
Parramatta great Jarryd Hayne has turned down the chance to play rugby league because he is “a bit out of shape” after spending nine months in jail on a rape charge which was dropped.
Hayne, 35, is currently out on bail after nine months in jail while awaiting a third trial in March for the alleged sexual assault of a woman, which he has consistently denied and insists was consensual.
His first trial ended with a split jury, but he was found guilty in a second trial for the alleged attack in Newcastle after the 2018 NRL grand final.
He was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison, but the conviction was overturned on appeal and he was released in February after spending nearly 10 months behind bars at the Cooma Correctional Facility.
Hayne was recently offered a contract in Group 6 rugby league in New South Wales, where former stars Blake Ferguson and Curtis Scott now play.
Parramatta great Jarryd Hayne has turned down the chance to play rugby league because he is “a bit out of shape” after spending nine months in jail on a rape charge which was dropped.
Hayne, 35, is currently out on bail after nine months in jail while awaiting a third trial in March for the alleged sexual assault of a woman, which he has consistently denied and insists was consensual.
“Jarryd was thinking about it,” South West Goannas President Mark Baird said.
‘It would have been a fantastic draw card and he would have returned to community rugby league.
‘T rex [Tony Williams] had an argument with him about playing even just five games.
‘It didn’t work. Maybe he’s a little out of shape. Maybe financially, he was going to be out of our league.’
The former Dally M winner, who hasn’t played in professional rugby league since 2018, was recently photographed out on a day out on Sydney’s Balmoral beach with his family.
Despite hanging up his boots, Hayne still backs the Eels and showed his support on social media when Parramatta beat the North Queensland Cowboys in September to qualify for the grand final against Penrith Panthers.
He shared images on Instagram of cars honking and chanting to Eels fans on the streets of Parramatta following the victory in Townsville.
“If (sic) you’re not from Western Sydney you wouldn’t understand,” he wrote.
Despite hanging up his boots, Hayne continues to support the Eels and showed his support on social media when Parramatta beat the North Queensland Cowboys in September to qualify for the grand final against the Penrith Panthers.
Hayne pictured after being released from Cooma Cooma Correctional Centre, NSW in 2022
‘The boys don’t know what’s for next week! The best fan base in the country!
‘Eels v Panthers GF. Be one of the best eva! (sic) ‘Can we have (the) same referee and touches next week! Health!’
Despite Hayne’s support, the Eels lost 28–12, extending their miserable 36-year premiership drought, the longest in NRL history.