Jarryd Hayne claimed in court he was about to sign a half MILLION dollar deal with St George on the day he got arrested for rape – but that was news to the NRL club
- Jarryd Hayne claimed he was about to sign a $500,000 with the Dragons
- St George Illawarra officials say they never tabled the convicted rapist an offer
- The disgraced fullback, 33, was sentenced to five years and nine months jail
St George Illawarra officials say Jarryd Hayne’s claim he was about to sign a $500,000 contract with the club on the day he was arrested for raping a 26-year-old woman is false.
The disgraced fullback, 33, told the NSW District Court during his trial he was on the verge of penning a lucrative one-year deal with the Dragons but after he was charged in 2018 the agreement fell through.
But according to the NRL club, they never tabled an offer to the convicted rapist.
Jarryd Hayne (pictured) said that on the same day he was supposed to sign a $500,000 contract with St George Illawarra, he was arrested for the sexual assault of a 26-year-old woman
But according to the NRL club, they never tabled an offer to the convicted rapist. Pictured: St George Illawarra fans at Sydney’s Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
‘There was no point where we actually made an offer,’ general manager Ben Haran told the Daily Telegraph.
‘We had a meeting with him like we do with a lot of players and there are multiple things that you look at. We didn’t get to a stage where we thought we should take it any further.’
The Dragons’ boss said the talks never even progressed to a level where it went before the then-coach Paul McGregor or ex CEO Brian Johnston for approval.
Hayne was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison on Thursday after being convicted in March of sexually assaulting a woman in her bedroom on the night of the 2018 NRL Grand Final.
The NSW District Court jury had found the ex-Paramatta Eels and Gold Coast Titans star guilty of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
A blood-stained bed and an intercepted phone call with a fellow NRL star were key to landing Hayne in jail for raping the woman in her bedroom.
Hayne (pictured with wife Amellia Bonnici) was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison on Thursday
Hayne (pictured after winning State of Origin in 2009) was convicted in March of sexually assaulting a woman in her bedroom on the night of the 2018 NRL Grand Final
The evidence included footage of a bloodied towel and sheets in the victim’s bedroom after she was raped by Hayne.
A graphic two second video filmed by the woman shows splotches of blood on bed sheets, pillows, and towels from where she bled from her genitals after she was sexual assaulted.
The footage played to the jury also shows blood at the head of the bed, backing up the victim’s claims she began inching up the bed when Hayne began sexually assaulting her.
The court noted while Hayne experienced a ‘difficult’ upbringing, it did not provide any link to his ‘entitled behaviour opposite this young woman who simply rejected any sexual advances’.
Confronting scenes erupted outside Newcastle District Court after the verdict was handed down on Thursday afternoon, as scuffles broke out between his supporters and the waiting press – sparking outrage across Australia.
In one repulsive moment, the footy star’s victim – a young woman who he raped until she bled – was stared down by one of Hayne’s supporters and allegedly spat at in scenes that shocked the nation.
During his stellar athletic career – which included 214 NRL games and a season in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers – the Blues and Australian representative was considered one of rugby league’s greatest talents
Footage of the victim’s blood stained sheets (pictured) was among vital evidence shown to the jury which found Jarryd Hayne guilty of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent
During his stellar athletic career – which included 214 NRL games and a season in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers – the Blues and Australian representative was considered one of rugby league’s greatest talents.
Now Hayne is in jail segregated from the general prison population in the medical clinic of the Parklea Correctional Centre – over fears he may get bashed by inmates who target sex offenders.
Hayne’s lawyers on Friday notified the New South Wales Supreme Court of his intention to appeal the ruling.
His legal team have 12 months to launch a formal appeal.
Rapist Jarryd Hayne has begun his life behind bars with a strip search at the maximum-security Parklea Correctional Centre in Sydney’s north-west. He is pictured reporting for bail at Woy Woy police station ahead of being jailed for a minimum three years and eight months
He will be temporarily housed at the Parklea Correction Facility in Sydney’s north-west (pictured) following his conviction for sexual assault