New role: Kieran Foran. Credit:Mark Metcalfe On Thursday, at a press conference arranged by celebrity spruiker Max Markson at the Premier's Room at the Intercontinental, Hayson was asked whether he bet on under-20s games. "No, I don't bet on Holden Cup matches," Hayson replied. However, Fairfax Media has been told Hayson has recently placed three bets on NYC matches with a licensed Australian bookmaker, each to win $10,000.

FORAN'S NEW FRONTIER Just months after walking away from his $1.2 million-per-season deal with Parramatta, Kieran Foran has started a new job in retail. Foran is hopeful of returning to the NRL next season and is taking steps to ensure he is in the right head space to do so. One of those is getting back into the workforce to ensure his time away from footy is spent productively. The new gig is far removed from the pressures of captaining Parramatta, where he was labelled as the club's saviour after his much-publicised transfer from Manly. "I know he has got a job and is doing a bit of work," said Foran's godfather and mentor, Don Mackinnon. "He's continuing to try to get things back on track and the way he described it to me, this is just part of it, getting back to a normal life. From my perspective he's making good progress at a health level."

The Warriors and the Bulldogs are keen to add Foran to their roster, but the Kiwi international must first convince them, and the NRL, he is ready for a return. "In terms of playing next year, if he continues to improve and get things on track, he's said in recent times that he would like to play next year. Nothing has changed," Mackinnon said. "He's had a very good six or seven weeks. He's done pretty much everything I've asked him to." MAKE A DATE The problem with calendars is how quickly they go out of date. Take, for instance, the 2017 official NRL calendar for the Wests Tigers.

Pictured front and centre on the cover is none other than long-time hooker Robbie Farah, who won't be at the Tigers next year after he was granted a release from the final year of his contract. Given Farah is also the featured player for the month of February, how many diehard Tigers supporters will be shelling out the recommended retail price of $19.95 for what is likely to become a collector's item? Collector's item: Robbie Farah alongside Aaron Woods, James Tedsco and Kevin Naiqama on the 2017 Wests Tigers calendar. Unfortunately, given the long lead times for such things, the calendars are printed well before many of the late-season player transfers come to pass. It would be more fitting for Farah to appear on the cover of South Sydney's calendar, although their fans will have to settle for images of Sam Burgess, Adam Reynolds, John Sutton and Greg Inglis. Tigers fans aren't the only ones stung by personnel changes in the off-season. St George Illawarra's official calendar also features on the cover their long-time hooker Mitch Rein. The Dragons opted not to table Rein an extension, a move too late to prevent him featuring several times throughout the year. Cronulla's version features Mick Ennis, even though he is retiring at the end of this season, while Corey Parker will front the Brisbane edition despite doing likewise.

EELS TO SETTLE Parramatta are poised to settle out of court their $1.83 million contract dispute with Will Hopoate, although it remains to be seen if the Eels will need to carry the payout in their salary cap. The matter has been before the Supreme Court, but the parties are keen to avoid a protracted legal battle and have all but agreed a payout figure. Hopoate, now at Canterbury, alleged the Eels had failed to honour a contract extension for 2016-18. While the settlement will come out of the Parramatta Leagues Club coffers, the Eels will be hoping the money doesn't count against their salary cap. The NRL's determination is critical as the outcome will affect how much the blue-and-golds have to spend on recruitment and retention for future campaigns. ALOHA TO LEAGUE St George Illawarra will be Wests Tigers' opponents in a historic clash in Hawaii if the NRL greenlights the venture. The Tigers are deep in negotiations to take the landmark clash to the 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium, home of the University of Hawaii's Rainbow Warriors. The venture would expose two iconic NRL brands to a new, global audience in what could be the first of several forays into the American market.

Jason Moore, the promoter who brought Major League Baseball to Sydney, is pitching to take NRL and State of Origin games to the United States. Moore is also behind a formal bid to host the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in a move that could potentially be a showcase for the game at venues including New York's Red Bull Arena. The Tigers and Dragons have agreed to playing each other for their opening trial of 2017 and are keen to shift into the holiday hot spot rather than the usual pre-season affair at Kogarah or Campbelltown. The clubs hope the NRL will see the benefits of the move and will rubber-stamp the fixture. HUNT FOR GUN Parramatta have just filled what could prove to be one of their most critical positions, that of recruitment manager. Matt Desira, formerly a player agent for Pacific Sports Management, has been charged with helping the Eels to turn their roster into a premiership-winning one. The Eels have money to spend after releasing Kieran Foran and missing out on Jarryd Hayne, and Desira has the task of finding a gun No.7 to partner Corey Norman in the halves. Arthur is managed by PSM and has a strong relationship with Desira through that association. T-REX TO SHARK

As revealed by Fairfax Media during the week, Tony Williams is likely to make the switch from Canterbury to Cronulla in the off-season. Williams showed only glimpses of his destructive best in his stint at the Bulldogs, but the Sharks believe they can get the best out of the man known as T-Rex. If fit and focused, the 27-year-old would be a handy addition to an already imposing Cronulla pack. Loading OPERA FANS There will be a stunning backdrop for supporters wanting to get close to the players in grand final week, with the Sydney Opera House chosen as the location for the traditional NRL fan day.