‘Shocking and disappointing’ reaction to Jarryd Hayne sentence as fans show support

Australia has reacted with fury to anyone supporting Jarryd Hayne after he was sentenced today for sexual assault.

While many Australians were pleased to see Jarryd Hayne’s sentence today, it exposed an underbelly of society being labelled as “disgusting”.

People on social media labelled the support as the “problem with sports mad Australia”, telling them to “wake up” and stop condoning such behaviour.

Some said the former NRL star should have been given a 10-year minimum sentence, saying what he got was “far too lenient”.

Hayne’s dramatic fall from stardom and grace was completed on Thursday afternoon as the ex-superstar of Australian sport was jailed for at least three years and eight months without parole for sexually assaulting a woman in her Newcastle home. He was given a maximum sentence of five years and nine months.

The 33-year-old had been found guilty of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent. He was found not guilty of the more serious charges of aggravated sexual intercourse without consent, recklessly inflicting actual bodily harm.

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Jarryd Hayne pictured when he was found guilty of counts of sexual assault. Picture: Christian Gilles

Many online criticised the media for calling Hayne a former NRL star rather than a convicted rapist when news of the sentencing broke. However, NSW does not have rape charges.

A 2019 article from Sydney Criminal Lawyers that asked if sentences imposed for sexual offences in NSW were too soft highlighted that — based on the most recent statistics at the time — of 244 sexual assault cases, 89.3 per cent resulted in a prison sentence.

Among full-term sentences, 8.3 per cent were five years, with 7.8 per cent given a non-parole period between 43 to 48 Months, as is the case with Hayne.

A 2008 report from the NSW Sentencing Council found the average non-parole periods imposed for the sexual offences examined ranged from about 1 year and 2 months to 8 years.

Writer Justin Smith tweeted: “It’s good to know that you still go to jail for rape in Australia. A couple more years would have been good, but there you go. My thoughts with the victim today. I hope the rest of her life has good things in it. At least there’s a little justice for her.”

Author Peter FitzSimons shared a column he wrote for the Sydney Morning Herald earlier today, tweeting, “Hayne is a rapist and does not deserve public support. Players still playing catch up on how to hold each other accountable.”

The author also tweeted that the sentence was lighter than he was expecting.

RELATED: Disgraceful scenes after former NRL superstar jailed

While convicted rapist Jarryd Hayne awaits his imminent sentencing, the idea well-known sports people are entitled to sex with anyone who shares a cab or is in the same room as them still seems to run pretty deep. Thoughts with the woman who endured two trials to get to today.

— Benjamin Millar (@BenjaminMillar) May 6, 2021

Journalist Ginger Gorman tweeted: “Whoever this woman is, thank you for your courage in speaking out. You are making change for all of us. #EnoughIsEnough.”

When convicted in March, Hayne said he would “definitely appeal” the guilty verdict.

“I’d rather go to jail knowing I spoke the truth than be a free man living a lie,” he said outside court at the time.

People on social media were disgusted by comments on his sentence.

Law academic at the Australian National University, Dilan Thampapillai, wrote: “It’s shocking and disappointing that there are people defending Jarryd Hayne after his conviction. It’s worse that there was an attempt to intimidate his victim. We have a long way to go as a society.”

Mr Thampapillai was referencing the behaviour of Hayne’s supporters outside of court. One supporter was labelled a “disgrace” by police after he appeared to spit at the victim as she left the court.

A violent brawl also erupted as a group of friends and family attempted to shield Hayne’s wife as she walked out of the court house.

Lawyer Kate Coombes tweeted that she “made the mistake of reading the comments on an article about Jarryd Hayne’s sentence”.

“In case anyone was wondering, it’s still totally and utterly f**ked to be a rape survivor. If you’re left wondering why some victims don’t come forward — go and have a look at the comments,” she said.

PhD student Marie M‘Balla-Ndi Oelgemöller tweeted: “Don’t call Jarryd Hayne’s verdict a milestone. Or claim it’s setting a good precedent. It simply is what it should be. You sexually assault someone, you should go to jail!”