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7th Tackle: NRL double standard behind Hayne Plane

Josh Massoud and Liam Cox have all the latest whispers from the world of rugby league, including the NRL double standards behind the registration of Jarryd Hayne's contract.

Did Winterstein delay expose a Hayne hypocrisy?

One is the game's highest paid player, the other on a base contract worth absolutely nothing.

The gap between Jarryd Hayne and Frank Winterstein couldn't be wider. So too the NRL's attitude toward welcoming them back to the code.

While Hayne was embraced with open arms when he signed a $1.3 million-a-year contract with the Titans, Winterstein was put through weeks of purgatory before being cleared to pull on a Sea Eagles jersey last weekend.

Why were their registrations handled differently? Pic: Getty
Why were their registrations handled differently? Pic: Getty


The injury-stricken Sea Eagles approached the NRL to register Winterstein a fortnight earlier; believing they could use that same loophole through which Hayne slipped back into rugby league without delay.

Hayne was allowed to play this season because the NRL ruled the June 30 deadline only applied to currently registered players.

And since he'd most recently played rugby sevens with Fiji, Hayne was deemed a viable exemption.

When asked about the Hayne exemption on Tuesday, Greenberg even admitted he'd personally helped lure the superstar home.

"We should make no apologies for the ability for the ability for us to attract the best athletes back inside the game," Greenberg said.

"I make no apology about that. I actively sought Jarryd out to come back to the NRL.”

So we can understand why Manly thought the same latitude would be granted to Winterstein, who, like Hayne, was making the jump from rugby sevens after missing the cut for Rio 2016.

Much to the amazement of Manly's coaching staff both the NRL and NSWRL sat idle and initially refused to register the 29-year-old journeyman.

The delay went on for two weeks, with Manly desperate to blood the forward through NSW Cup before using him in first grade over the closing rounds.

As the stand-off continued, Winterstein's manager upped the ante in his communications with the NRL and pointed-out the Hayne double standard.

He was told Hayne puts bums on seats and boosts TV ratings. He argued that, unlike Hayne, Winterstein has a child to feed and desperately needed the match payments.

Eventually the impasse was cleared last Friday, forcing Manly to rush Winterstein straight into first grade after an eight-year absence from the NRL.

In response, the NRL says it had questions to be resolved about Manly’s second tier salary cap – and that explained the delay.

But had Winterstein not been registered last week, it’s likely Manly would have come out swinging with the story.

There's plenty in the game who remain cynical about Hayne's registration to an NRL-run club.

With the league keen to sell the Titans, his addition can only make that a more attractive, and lucrative, proposition.

Busking Benji eyes a new gig

Benji Marshall might not be in top form on the field, but he's played this week's selection axe to perfection.

In interviews with various media outlets, he's been candid about his struggles and accepting of coach Paul McGregor's call to dump him.

But Marshall has also been very clever. Letting the cat out of the bag about McGregor's promise to recall him for a farewell appearance in a Red V jersey next weekend was a strategic masterstroke.

It's a fascinating guarantee. What if Marshall replacement, Drew Hutchinson, stars against the Eels on Monday night?

If the entire team plays well and wins convincingly, how could McGregor drop any player on the basis of a pre-conceived promise?

In a world where players and coaches constantly harp on about taking each week as it comes, it's a bizarre scenario.

Marshall has effectively snookered McGregor by going public because the coach can now be accused of reneging on a promise to a legend if he decides to retain the same 17 players.

Marshall says he's been promised a home farewell by the Dragons. Pic: Getty
Marshall says he's been promised a home farewell by the Dragons. Pic: Getty

Marshall has also faced-up to the fact this season might be is last.

If that's to be the case, then a promising musical career awaits.

We found a clip of Marshall singing and strumming a guitar at a New Zealand pub during his end-of-season holiday last November.

As you can see and hear, he does a wicked rendition of Shaggy's 2001 cover, Angel.

Roosters engage a new spotter

The Roosters have moved to fill the temporary void created by the shock suspension of recruitment guru Peter O'Sullivan.

We can reveal the club has engaged development manager Craig Walker to handle their list on an interim basis.

O'Sullivan was stood down nearly two weeks ago after the NRL approached the Roosters with details about his link to controversial punter Eddie Hayson.

The NRL has evidence of more than $700,000 passing from Hayson to O'Sullivan's betting accounts.

The man who discovered Israel Folau and Greg Inglis had already spoken to the Integrity Unit prior to the NRL's move to cancel his registration.

But that won't happen until O'Sullivan gets his chance to explain the Hayson transactions.

Greenberg was coy when asked this week why O'Sullivan had been suspended before the investigation was complete.

"I'm not going to speak to the individual's position on registration or not," he said.

"He has the opportunity to respond to a notice and he'll do that in the fullness of time as well."