The real story behind Jarryd Hayne’s meeting with Trent Robinson

IT sent social media and the rumour mill into overdrive but what was the true purpose of Jarryd Hayne’s meeting with Trent Robinson.

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 03: Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers walks onto the field against the St. Louis Rams prior to their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

A PICTURE is often worth a thousand words, but this grainy image of Jarryd Hayne and Trent Robinson sadly didn’t provide the words every Sydney Roosters fans wanted to hear — and what every Parramatta fan would have dreaded.

The rugby league rumour mill went into overdrive early on Tuesday when a photo surfaced of Hayne and the Roosters coach together at a Sydney bar.

It’s long been considered the Chooks — not the Eels — were the frontrunners to lure Hayne back home if his NFL dream went pear-shaped.

And the fact Robinson was now meeting with Hayne confirmed how keen the Bondi club were in the superstar fullback.

But The Daily Telegraph can reveal Robinson and Hayne just happened to be in the same room at the Conservatory Bar, inside the Sheraton on the Park, last Wednesday night as they joined the Australian Legends on the eve of their football match against the Liverpool Legends.

Robinson was invited to attend the night by Hayden Knowles, who works on the Roosters’ coaching staff and is a good friend of Hayne’s.

The coach was keen to chat with former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier — not Hayne — and eventually met the Frenchman two days later at the same hotel. Robinson has always been keen to pick the brains of other coaches and managers, and did a similar thing when Chelsea were in town last year.

Former Socceroo Robbie Slater was at the dinner and told The Daily Telegraph it was ridiculous to suggest Hayne and Robinson were cutting any deals.

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“There was no slipping away or anything secretive going on,’’ Slater said.

“It was all very amicable. Jarryd never sat with Trent at any given time on his own.

“Trent came in to meet Houllier, and came back on the Friday to see him. He was a very nice bloke.’’

An image purporting to be Jarryd Hayne meeting with Roosters coach Trent Robinson.

Hayne took to Twitter and said: “This is all time! You say hello to a coach and media make a story out of it.’’

Hayne only touched down from the US that day, and is a known Liverpool tragic. So, too, is Robbie Farah, the Wests Tigers favourite who was also in attendance at the Australian Legends dinner. Tim Cahill and Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold were also with the group on the night.

Every rugby league fan and player would welcome the return of Hayne, who realised his NFL dream this year when given a start by the San Francisco 49ers.

But with uncertainty over his immediate future after the sacking of coach Jim Tomsula, it remains to be seen what awaits Hayne next year.

Penrith superstar Matt Moylan said on Tuesday that the game would welcome the return of Hayne, and ”he was an entertainer who brings crowd to the footy’’.

Originally published as The real story behind Jarryd Hayne’s meeting with Trent Robinson