‘Entitled’ Jarryd Hayne jailed for five years

The kid from public housing who dominated the NRL, played for the 49ers and made millions of dollars, is now sitting in a prison cell for raping a woman.

Jarryd Hayne arrives at Newcastle District Court on Thursday for his sentence hearing after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in 2018. Picture: AAP

Footballer Jarryd Hayne, the kid from public housing who dominated the NRL, played for the 49ers and made millions of dollars, is now sitting in a prison cell for raping a woman.

And it is Hayne’s “entitled behaviour” which led him to here.

Hayne was on Thursday given a maximum sentence of five years and nine months for ­sexually assaulting the then 26-year-old woman, a crime which left the victim “destroyed and damaged”.

Ugly scenes unfolded outside Newcastle District Court when one of Hayne’s many supporters allegedly stared the footballer’s victim down and spat in her direction.

Judge Helen Syme in handing down her sentence said that while Hayne’s upbringing in South-West Sydney had been “very ­difficult” at times, this had no link to his “entitled behaviour next to this young woman who simply refused to have sexual relations with him”.

Judge Syme accepted that clearly the victim said “no” several times.

She said the victim had also indicated this with her actions, but Hayne went ahead “anyway”.

In March, Hayne was found guilty by a jury of two counts of sexual assault of the woman at her home on Newcastle’s outskirts on the NRL grand final night in September 2018.

The women in her statement to the court on Thursday said the rape that night had left her feeling “dirty, scared and ashamed”.

Hayne as running back for the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California, in 2015. Picture: Getty Images

Jarryd Hayne starring for NSW during the 2014 State of Origin rugby league series at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. Picture: AAP

“Why didn’t you stop? So many questions were running through my head,” she told the court. “I felt dirty and violated. You made me feel like an object and was looking straight through me.”

The woman said she felt “destroyed” but stated that she was “still standing”.

Judge Syme spoke of the force Hayne used in the sexual assault.

“The reliability and honesty of the victim‘s evidence was tested at length and in my view, her reliability was not in doubt. She said no several times,” she said.

“The use of force was such that the victim had no prospect of stopping him physically.

“He was at least twice her weight at 100 kilograms and an athlete at the top of his form.”

Judge Syme noted that Hayne continued to deny responsibility for his crime, and said his chances of rehabilitation were only “hopeful”.

Jarryd Hayne supporters clash with the media outside the court in Newcastle, NSW, on Thursday. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

Hayne’s former Eels teammate Tim Mannah spoke of the footballer’s faith, as did his defence barrister Richard Pontello SC.

Mr Pontello told the court that Hayne had strong Christian beliefs and they could help rehabilitate him. Judge Syme said that would not be fixed by him “going to church”.

During the trial in March the victim described Hayne ripping off her clothing and performing digital and oral sex on her, even after she said no. Her sheets were left bloodied and so was she.

She described how, afterwards, Hayne washed blood from his face while she stood in a shower, watching bloody water running down the drain.

“The assault was only a matter of minutes at most and he stopped,” Judge Syme said. “He did not stop because she said so, but because he saw blood.”

Hayne has said he would appeal.

If he fails in his appeal, sporting bodies such as the NRL, NSW Rugby League and the Parramatta Eels, have said they would consider whether the decorated footballer would keep his awards. Hayne has won rugby league’s highest honour, the Dally M medal, twice.

Hours before Hayne’s sentence was delivered, Mr Pontello said the footballer had already suffered having lost work as an NRL footballer.

Mr Pontello said the Eels had refused to renew his contract but the Dragons were circling.

It was revealed in court that the Dragons had offered a $500,000 one-year contract.

On the day he was due to meet with Dragons officials, he was charged with sexual assault and the deal fell over.

On Thursday, Hayne maintained his innocence. “I didn’t do it,” he said.

If he appeals and fails, he will serve a maximum of five years and nine months behind bars, with a non-parole period of three years and eight months.

Hayne will be eligible for release on January 5, 2025.