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Hayne expecting first child with a 'close friend'

Jarryd Hayne is expecting his first child with 'close friend' Amellia Bonnici.

Titans chief executive Graham Annesley confirmed the report on Tuesday.

Hayne, 28, and Bonnici, 25, reportedly met when Hayne returned home to Australia in February during his stint in the NFL.

Some reports also suggest he met the Italian-born Bonnici through Instagram.

Bonnici (left) Pic: Myspace, Hayne (right) Pic: Getty
Bonnici (left) Pic: Myspace, Hayne (right) Pic: Getty

Bonnici has moved into Hayne's Gold Coast apartment with the child expected at the end of the year.

Hayne is apparently excited to welcome the baby into his tight-knit family.

The star fullback from Minto in Sydney's west is a Christian who joined the Hillsong Church in 2008.

"When I first started coming to Hillsong I wasn’t glorified as an athlete. You know, you are there as a son of God," he told an annual conference of 20,000 at the church.

"That for me helped me so much. Church for me was one of those things on a Sunday, I could just come and be me.

"Coming in and speaking about God was huge for me."

Hayne pictured holding his nephew
Hayne pictured holding his nephew

During a press conference in March, Hayne talked about the effect the church had on him.

"I’m not perfect. I struggle with sin and temptation all the time. For me, they are the key areas where I want to improve as well," he said.

"They’re part of that journey now. Christ comes before everything."

The Origin and Kangaroos representative also likened himself to Jesus at a Titans press conference earlier in the year.

Hayne is currently on a $1.2 million-dollar per year deal with the Gold Coast Titans.