A BIG-name NRL club is reportedly out of the running for the signature of former NRL and NFL player Jarryd Hayne.

Meanwhile, Billy Slater has a new role with the Queensland Maroons and the latest on Kieran Foran’s return.

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ROOSTERS OUT

Round 19

The Sydney Roosters have reportedly withdrawn from the race to sign Jarryd Hayne.

Earlier in the week, Hayne made the shock decision to quit the NFL and the San Francisco 49ers to pursue an Olympic dream with the Fijian rugby sevens side.

Where will Jarryd Hayne play after the Olympics? Source: Getty Images

Speculation about whether he’ll return to the NRL after the Rio Olympics has blown up, with rumours circulating that Hayne has already struck up a deal with the Roosters, should he come back.

But according to Channel Seven, the Tricolours have ruled themselves out of the running for the former Origin and Test star.

“Club insiders confirmed they are not in the race to sign the two-time Dally M winner,” the report said on Wednesday night.

GREEN YET TO RE-SIGN

He’s the man who guided North Queensland to their main NRL title last year, but Paul Green is yet to sign a new contact with the club.

“Last year the Cowboys tabled a three-year extension to Paul Green and we thought he was under lock and key,” The Courier Mail’s Peter Badel told NRL 360.

“But, I can tell you that Paul Green is yet to sign that three-year contract.



“There’s some suggestion that there’s a Mexican standoff with the Cowboys over money and Green has engaged a solicitor to go over the final details of that contract.

“I had a chat to Paul Green yesterday, and he assured me that he’s not walking out on the club but there are some minor points in his contact that he needs to sort out.”

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FORAN SET TO RETURN

Parramatta skipper Kieran Foran is set to make his return to the playing field in Monday night’s clash with Melbourne.

Last month, Foran was granted a leave of absence to address personal issues at a mental health facility.

“I think he will be there (on Monday),” Fox Sports’ NRL chief reporter James Hooper told NRL Tonight.

“He still needs final medical clearance which should happen tomorrow.

“The Parramatta Eels are certainly hopeful. I’ve spoken to people out there who have been in regular dialogue with Kieran. They believe he’s in a good space, he’s been training every day, so their plan is to bring him down to Sydney for the game, then back to the facility.”

BALLIN HAPPY TO BE SECOND FIDDLE

Wests Tigers hooker Matt Ballin says he’s happy to play reserve grade if coach Jason Taylor decides there isn’t a spot for him and Robbie Farah in the club’s top 17.

After suffering an ACL injury play for Manly late last year, Ballin returned to the playing field on the weekend in the NSW Cup.



“I wouldn’t have come to the Wests Tigers if I didn’t want to play hooker,” Ballin told Fairfax Media.

“Robbie and I both understand that. [But] I think there’s no issue with both of us playing. I don’t care if he starts and I’m sure he doesn’t care if I start. We’ve both been around and have played a lot of footy, we’re both mature guys that understand the situation so I think by having us both in the team it could be effective.”

SLATER’S NEW QLD GIG

He might be out injured, but Queensland coach Kevin Walters believes Billy Slater can still leave a huge mark on this year’s State of Origin series.

Walters has asked the star to join his coaching staff this year in a bid to help some of the younger members of the Maroons backline.

“Billy Slater, the great Storm fullback, he will be joining the Queensland team for this year’s Origin series in a consultancy capacity,” The Courier Mail’s Peter Badel told NRL 360.

“It’s a great coup for the Maroons — Billy Slater, 27 Origins, he’s dominated at the highest levels.

“(Slater’s) knowledge of the game, Kevin Walters thinks he can transfer that to some of the younger guys that will be in the backline for the Maroons.”

COOPER’S SELFLESS ACT

Cowboys forward Gavin Cooper has revealed that he auctioned off his grand final jersey in order to help his junior club the Murgon Mustangs.

“It’s hanging up on someone’s wall in Murgon,” Cooper told Sterlo On The Couch.

“I got an email from the junior rugby league at home and they said that the club at Murgon had pretty much fallen by the wayside.

“With the work of a business development group in Murgon, they got me back there for a weekend, and they called it the ‘Night with Gavin Cooper’ which was pretty special.

“It’s only a small town of about 2000 people, so we had about 300 there and we auctioned off a few items and my jersey — framed up — was one of them.

“Any dollar that I could give back to keep that little junior footy club alive, I was more than happy to do so.”

HOW THURSTON’S HELPED GREEN

Cowboys coach Paul Green has revealed how mentoring superstar Johnathan Thurston has helped his coaching style.

“One thing it does is it challenges you as a coach to try and expand the way you think you can play the game,” Green told NRL 360.

“The better the players you have, the better the game you can play, if you like.

“It’s obviously great to have players of his calibre in the team, but for me, it’s also made me think about how we want to play footy from a different angle and challenge him in that respect.”

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