Payto & Panda: Jarryd Hayne’s confusing ARU demand, Liam Gill’s hip pocket takes a hit

JARRYD Hayne issued the ARU a non-negotiable demand that he had to play for the Waratahs because he wanted to live in Sydney. He’s now at the Titans. Go figure.

Jarryd Hayne at his new club the Gold Coast Titans.

WHEN Jarryd Hayne sat down with ARU boss Bill Pulver to discuss a potential deal, a non-negotiable was that he had to play for the NSW Waratahs because he wanted to live in Sydney.

So you can imagine the dubious expressions around St Leonards this week when Hayne announced he’d signed for two years at the Gold Coast Titans.

Hayne never met with any officials at the Waratahs, and the seriousness of his consideration to playing rugby is highly questionable.

If Hayne wanted to play XVs, he would have been facing significantly less money than the $1.2 million-a-year he’s receiving from the Titans.

It has been suggested by Hayne and his camp that he could have earned even more by signing with another NRL club, but he didn’t want to sign with a Sydney rival to Parramatta.

Jarryd Hayne leaving ARU HQ. Picture: Mark Evans

But why he needed to stay in Sydney to play rugby, but anywhere but Sydney if he didn’t sign with Parramatta, is confusing.

The Waratahs could have only afforded to pay Hayne about $300,000 a year, whereas he could have been given a far more lucrative offer if he’d considered the Western Force or Melbourne Rebels, given the ARU’s need to bolster those franchises.

Pulver never discussed money with Hayne, but he did say that the code-hooper could pad out his earnings with off-seasons in Japanese rugby, while also promising to release Hayne for any Sevens tournaments that Fiji may want him to play in.

But the guaranteed income offered by the Titans was obviously so sweet that relocating from Sydney was a breeze for Hayne.

GILL’S HIP POCKET TAKES A HIT

LIAM Gill remains in Australia and it appears he will not be allowed to join French club Toulon until the end of the final Bledisloe Test in October, costing him big money.

While Dave Dennis and Greg Holmes have been allowed to join their foreign club Exeter Chiefs, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika wants Gill in Australia in case of injuries to his backrowers during the Rugby Championships.

Liam Gill’s French vacant has been delayed.

If Gill is not selected for any Tests he would be expected to play in the NRC, which runs from August 20 to October 31.

But Gill will have to forego the cash that Toulon is willing to pay him from August. Gill will continue to be paid by Queensland while in Australia and as per the rules, but cannot earn extra for playing NRC.

It is a tricky situation given the Wallabies have Michael Hooper, David Pocock and Sean McMahon who can all play openside flanker, but a raft of injuries could see Gill recalled.

Cheika and national skills coach Mick Byrne met with NRC coaches in Sydney this week to discuss what they want to see from players in this year’s tournament.

GIANTS AND JOCKEYS

GIANT Wallabies Sekope Kepu (125kg) and Taqele Naiyaravoro (135kg) recently crossed paths with a few jockeys for a serious chat.

The ARU and Australian Turf Club will again raise money for the Prince of Wales Hosptial this year with their Bledisloe Cup Race Festival at Randwick.

It’s on this Saturday and 15,000 people are expected to attend.

KIWIS COULD STRIP MAD MONDAYS

THE Kiwi stripper who claims she was “inappropriately licked” by Chiefs players at a season-ending party could herald the death of Mad Mondays in New Zealand.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has slammed the practice of Mad Mondays - traditionally booze-fuelled parties to mark the end of the football season - after the controversy surrounding the stripper named “Scarlette” surfaced in local press.

Scarlette claimed the Chiefs players had an aggressive pack mentality and that she was forced to use her martial arts training to incapacitate one player who touched her genitalia, while adding:

“I had one of the players going through my phone, they proceeded to lick me in places that I don’t totally agree with. I felt like I was pressured for that.”

The NZRU is now investigating the incident, while Hansen said: “If it’s true it’s disappointing. If it’s not true it’s disappointing too because a whole lot of things are coming out of this which aren’t great for rugby.

“The one thing I do know is that it’s a massive lesson about Mad Mondays.

“We should kick them to touch, we don’t need them.”

CLEAN SKINS GET DIRTY

THERE is drama in the club ranks after Sydney University fielded a first grade player in the third-grade colts semi-final last weekend.

Parents are blowing up that the player, who started in six Shute Shield games this year, came off the bench in colts thirds against Randwick, claiming their school-aged children were put at risk playing against an athlete who is obviously much stronger. One told us it was “ethically disgusting behaviour”. Uni won the game 21-17.

The NSWRU has sought an explanation from Uni.

SOUTHERN REBELLION

THERE is also drama at the Melbourne Rebels, with players becoming increasingly frustrated with the club’s approach to signings.

There have been some interesting posts by players on social media this week including the hashtag #signQuith, which refers to popular Rebels utility back Paul Asquith who is being released.

Cam Crawford and Dan Hawkins have also been given the flick, which has received scathing commentary on Snapchat and Instagram.

Rebels coach Tony McGahan has a fight on his hands to get the players back on side, with some high-profile names now being linked to rival franchises.

WARATAHS START 10S WAUGH

DON’T be surprised to see Waratahs legend Phil Waugh line up for the club at the Brisbane Global Tens tournament next February.

Tahs coach Daryl Gibson has confirmed to us that he’s mentioned in passing to Waugh the possibility of pulling the boots on for the club once more, while Lote Tuqiri could be another target.

But Gibson doesn’t intend to stack his side with retired stars - there is a chance Israel Folau and Bernard Foley could also play depending on how their bodies feel after the spring tour finishing in December.

Folau and Foley had both signed deals that allowed them to sign lucrative contracts in Japan in the off-season but we’re told neither will be playing there, and will be in Australia when the Tens are played on February 11-12 at Suncorp Stadium.

The Tens will feature every Aussie and Kiwi Super franchise as well as four invitational teams; Toulon, Panasonic Wild Knights, the Bulls from South Africa, and Samoa.

SBW ... ENOUGH SAID

HERE’S a warning to send shudders down the spines of Australian rugby fans; Sonny Bill Williams says he will return to the All Blacks as an even better player because of Sevens.

“It is always a proud time or a proud moment to be named in the All Blacks side, and I don’t take that for granted, but my time spent here in the Sevens environment is only going to help me going back into XVs,” Williams said.

“As you can tell, how Ardie Savea went, and young Rieko (Ioane) was the best winger in Super Rugby before he came back to us. Hopefully I can do something like that as well.”

Originally published as Payto & Panda: Jarryd Hayne’s confusing ARU demand, Liam Gill’s hip pocket takes a hit