The inference is that the women in these stories always are. It’s so completely wrong. People are asking why it took so long for the woman to come forward. If the alleged events happened, then maybe she was traumatised, scared and fragile? It was only when certain members of her family learnt what allegedly happened that it gained momentum. They could not let it go. They deserve credit for that. They were horrified by what is alleged to have happened. They talked me through it and remain furious. Yet the 26-year-old woman was reluctant to put herself through a court case. She knows she is in for two years of intense scrutiny. I’ve covered Hayne’s entire career and always admired his ability. His mum, Jodie, is a lovely woman. The man who has been like a father to him from the age of 15, agent Wayne Beavis, is a solid and smart individual. I don’t know Jarryd away from the sound bites. He spoke to me at length a few weeks back on camera for Channel Nine and when the microphone was put down he asked me all about the David Klemmer deal at Newcastle and what else was making news in the NRL. I told him that he was. ‘‘It’s always about me,’’ he said. I can’t imagine he knew the sexual allegations were coming. The last I saw of him he was walking along with the mother of his child, and his daughter was on his shoulders.

Hayne is not a cleanskin. As a young man he was shot at during a night out in Kings Cross. And then there was the incident where he was presenting to a group of school kids about cyber safety and porn suddenly flashed up on display. All of these issues, although many are denied or unproven, interrupted a career that hit some magnificent highs. There were times when he was the best player in the game. Right now he is in disgrace. One thing is certain: we won’t see him playing sport at the top level again, no matter the outcome of his trial. Gal's Holmes truths There is a lot more to the Valentine Holmes story. It may materialise one day. But Cronulla’s anger at him is understandable. Paul Gallen has been panned for saying Holmes should be banned for two years for walking out on the club to pursue a career in the NFL. That may be a heavy penalty for Holmes to pay, but good on Gallen for expressing it and showing his passion for the club. He must know the intimate details of the Holmes negotiations.

Valentine's spray: Cronulla captain Paul Gallen fired a parting shot at aspiring NFL star Valentine Holmes. Credit:AAP The Sharks bent over backwards for Holmes: financially and by employing his girlfriend. She was excellent at her job, but there is no question being Holmes’ partner got her in the door. She was also allowed to train clients as part of her fitness business on the Sharks’ premises. With that knowledge, was Gallen wrong to express his frustration that Holmes was leaving with a year to run on his contract? Bringing Gallen’s off-season boxing into the argument – as Sharks great Matt Rogers did during the week – is also totally irrelevant. Sonny Bill Williams, Sam Thaiday, Josh McGuire, Junior Paulo, Lance Thompson, Chris Sandow, Todd Carney, Greg Bird and Willie Mason, to name a few, have all boxed at some point in their league careers with their club’s permission. Gallen has an agreement with the club to fight. He doesn’t walk out on the club to fight. He always seeks approval to do so with the club’s interests being his priority. He pulled out of a fight against John Hopoate, which was to take place in late November, to complete rehab on the shoulder he injured late in 2018.

Testy-monials The Cameron Smith contract negotiations are curious. Even more so that he wants a two-year deal when this season there was a testimonial game for him at the start of the campaign. An odd thing when you consider that he is not planning on retiring for another two years. Just as weird is that there has been a testimonial lunch. After we queried it, the NRL put an end to any more “fundraisers” for Smith. Will we see him sign a two-season deal and perhaps retire after one with some kind of payout at the end of the year? Even loyal Storm fans and officials are beginning to question Smith and his ways. Ire of the Storm

While on the Storm, one of their better assets is chief executive Dave Donaghy. He is said to be on the outer with some key Storm figures and is under pressure. If he parted ways with the Storm, the NRL would sign him up. Decisions, decisions: Tigers halfback Luke Brooks is off-contract at the end of the 2019 season. Credit:AAP Luke and learn One thing is certain in Luke Brooks’ negotiations with Wests Tigers: the club won’t be drawn into lengthy negotiations. The Tigers learnt their lesson when they tried to keep the so-called “big four” of Aaron Woods, Mitchell Moses, James Tedesco and Brooks in 2017. The biggest thing they have in their favour is Brooks’ family are Tigers people and they have an affinity with the club. Brooks is also considered a loyal person. Dogs dinner

The Bulldogs have one of the most passionate fan bases in the NRL, but the club’s recent actions clearly have supporters offside. A very small crowd turned up at an open training session in Cabramatta during the week despite the club’s entire mailing list of members and fans being notified. The reasons behind the poor turnout are many and varied. The obvious factor is the team’s poor performances on the field in 2018. Second, is the fallout from the Mad Monday saga, which saw two players charged for lewd acts. Third, David Klemmer’s shock decision to leave the club that had nurtured him from shy teenager to Australian superstar. However, the most overlooked explanation is this once-mighty organisation’s archaic attitude to the media. A Channel Nine crew was turned away from the fan day despite the session being labelled as ‘‘open’’. The crew simply requested to speak to one player about the club’s pre-season, to get a comment on the Klemmer situation and to hear about how the team is shaping heading into 2019. Hardly rocket science. The fans deserve answers. Once bitten . . . Brad Fittler is mourning the loss of his beloved pet llama. Credit:AAP

Llama drama The off-season hasn’t been all beer and skittles for Blues coach and Channel Nine commentator Brad Fittler. One of Fittler’s pet llamas, Michelle, passed away recently. Freddy believes Michelle’s fate may have resulted from a snake bite on his Terrey Hills property. The 46-year-old is unsure if he will get another llama. Doppel-clanger Media types staking out Broncos headquarters during the week for developments on the Wayne Bennett-Anthony Seibold coaching saga thought they had scored a breaking story when Wests Tigers veteran Chris Lawrence appeared at Red Hill. Off-contract at the end of 2019, many thought the 13-year Wests Tigers stalwart was in negotiations with the six-time premiers. The 30-year-old was indeed there on business, but in relation to the company he helps run, One Solutions. Lawrence also visited the Titans and Storm.