Wild week: Jarryd Hayne denies he played any part in coach Neil Henry's sacking. Credit:AAP Props to Hayne for fronting the media because others certainly would not, but we had a little chuckle at one line from the Titans' $2.4 million fullback. Asked how he felt about claims he was a "coach killer", he said this: "It hasn't been that bad because I understand the media. You guys are there to sell papers, not write truths. That's something I've become accustomed to. When you understand that you don't take it too personally." That remark cocked a few eyebrows — it even prompted the odd eye-roll — from his NSW teammates given Hayne's remarks during this year's Origin series. You might recall them. They were dynamite. He revealed after the Blues' win in game one how he had "gone to hell and back" in the first half, collapsing and vomiting in the dressing-room at half-time.

"I was rooted," Hayne said in the lead-up to game two. "I actually collapsed in the change rooms; [I was] spewing up. I was sitting there going, 'f---, I could be the first centre [in Origin history] to get substituted'. "It ended up being Duges. And Duges was behind me [in the change rooms] ... I'm collapsing and he was just that buggered as well that he was looking at me like a zombie. My legs just got like jelly. I haven't lost my legs like that at half-time, that was pretty scary. If I hadn't put my head on to the table and crouched down, I was gone. "But you've just got to go out there and just keep going. Like I said, you've got to go to hell and back, so I wasn't really scared about it. I was f---ed, but it is what it is." It is what it is ... even if it wasn't. Several people within the NSW dressing room scoffed at these comments when Hayne first made them. They recalled no such thing happening. At all.

That first half was described by both NSW and Queensland players as the fastest footy they've ever played, but Hayne's description of his own performance did not go down well with some teammates and coaching staff. So he should be a little careful when throwing around accusations about "the truth". Hayne Plane. Always with the drama. Wrath of Murdoch Don't worry about the Wrath of the Gods. Players should be more worried about the wrath of News Corp if they abandon the Dally Ms as threatened if the collective bargaining agreement is not agreed to before grand final week.

While it is the NRL's night of nights, the event definitely belongs to News, which kept control of them after Rupert Murdoch's media empire relinquished its 50 per cent ownership of the NRL in 2012. Fox Sports broadcasts it live while there are free copies of The Daily Telegraph for people to read when they leave the function. News are also furious about the NRL's much-anticipated new-look website, which they see as a threat to its turf. Ignore all the posturing: the current impasse in CBA negotiations is chiefly about money. "Revenue sharing" and what not. But the NRL's desire to have access to players' phone records and bank accounts also remains a delicate issue – even if AFL players and cricketers have accepted it as part of professional sporting life. About a decade ago, only a handful of players were vaguely interested in CBA negotiations – until the NRL said it wanted greater access to bank statements and phone bills. Suddenly, some of the game's biggest stars were sitting in the front row at RLPA meetings, demanding their privacy be protected so extracurricular activities were never dragged into the light. All quiet on ref front You mightn't know this but the NRL referees also have their own association and its chairman, Silvio Del Vecchio, is bemused head office hasn't said anything about a Canberra supporter spitting at referee Ashley Klein last Sunday.

At half-time, as Klein was walking up the tunnel, the grotty little bloke leaned over and let fly with a golly the size of a golf ball. Not cool. He was banned for a year but should've received more. "The referees are employees of the NRL and head office should go into bat for them," Del Vecchio says. "I'm pleased Canberra have taken action but the NRL and Todd Greenberg have made no comment on it at all." Winx saddles up Winx, is there anything you cannot do, darlin'? When she's not winning races and creating history, the mighty mare is supporting Jersey Day, which is on next Friday and raises awareness about organ and tissue donation. It's in honour of Nathan Gremmo, the 15-year-old who lost his life in 2015 and whose family has turned his death into a positive.

Simply wear your favourite sporting jersey to school or work to show your support for this cause .. Or, like Winx, a saddlecloth. More details at www.jerseyday.com.au. Drag queens to rescue And, finally, we bring you a tale that warms the heart about Sydney, about life and about rugby league. Ivan Flinn was having a late-night kebab on Oxford Street earlier this month when he was set upon by a bunch of homophobic, well, pricks. "You f---ing faggot! You queer c---!" they barked at Flinn, who was then king hit, dislocating his jaw. Not so fast.

Three large drag queens – Coco Jumbo, Ivy Leaguee and Vybe – who had seen the incident came rushing to the 34-year-old's rescue. The ensuing brawl was a whirlwind of wigs, sequins and high heels and at one point sprawled into oncoming traffic. The attackers departed the scene worse for wear. "A guy pushed Ivy so I picked him up and threw him into the gutter," Luke Waqa, who performs as Coco, told news.com.au. "I don't think they knew what they were getting themselves into. I used to play rugby league." This, friends, is why rugby league will always be the greatest game of all. (Flinn has opened up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost of replacement wigs, nails and heels). Ellerbee's vision for Allianz

You can stop all your angry debates about Sydney's stadium wars: Rice University's star linebacker Emmanuel Ellerbee says they should knock down Allianz Stadium and make it "the eighth wonder of the world". There, that settles it. Ellerbee, 20, is one of the players to watch when Rice meet Stanford in the college football season opener at Allianz Stadium on Sunday afternoon. When he's not destroying the opposition's offensive line, he's studying civil engineering with the hope of one day building the gobsmacking sporting stadiums the US is renowned for. With so much talk around whether Allianz or ANZ Stadium gets a facelift, we asked Ellerbee for his opinion. Big visions: Emmanuel Ellerbee of the Rice Owls. "The stadium that's the benchmark now is the new Atlanta Falcons' stadium: the Mercedes-Benz Stadium," he said. "It's beautiful. It's huge, energy efficient ... In America, we want to outdo each other so I reckon the new Raiders' stadium in Las Vegas will be the new benchmark." The Las Vegas Stadium, incidentally, will cost $2.4 billion to build but when it does open in 2020 it will be a 10-level dome with a clear retractable roof and curtains that will reveal the Vegas strip. Allianz, sadly, has none of these features.

"I was at Allianz this morning and it shocked me how good it is," Ellerbee said. "The grass is amazing and the way it's designed ... For a rugby stadium, they've bowled it out. In America, all our stadiums are vertical." I tell him it's 30 years old. "Wow! They've done a good job to keep it like that. If they knock it down I want them to make it the eighth wonder of the world so people say, 'The Raiders' stadium is cool but no, you should see the one in Sydney'.' Q&A with John McEnroe We speak to the tennis legend and ESPN commentator ahead of the US Open, which starts Monday.

Any advice for Nick Kyrgios? Nick Kyrgios is the most talented player out there that's 22 years old. He has the game to be the best player in the world. Now, can he dedicate himself in terms of the level of fitness required these days and the mental aspect to give a sustained effort, day in and day out? That's what separates the good from the great. He doesn't go out and play. And he's pulled out of a fair amount. I hope and pray that he gets it and becomes the best player in the world. But that requires a change mentally. A sustained five-year plan. And I believe it can be done. I hope it does. Is he improving in that area? He was on a two-month losing streak and didn't win a match for two months ... It's a jump to play best-of-five and conditions can be very, very hot here. We'll have to wait and see. He's still learning. He's young. Roger's now 36 and arguably playing the best tennis of his life. So you can say he's slowly but surely going in the right direction.

What are the chances of a Roger-versus-Rafa US Open final for the first time? It's unlikely, even though they are going to be the two favourites, because it's never happened. The odds, even with Roger to win three majors out of four, would be astounding. Rafa has not done as well on the hard courts. If Roger does win, does it cement him as best of all time? Loading Roger wins this it will be one of the great stories in the last 50 years or ever. He should be Sports Illustrated Athlete of the Year, whether he wins this or not. It's an amazing thing what he's done at his age. He won three five-setters in Australia. It's not exactly cool down there, either. He played Wimbledon without losing a single set. I just saw him today because we were just doing a little press conference for the Laver Cup and I was just like, 'I've got to tell you, this is absolutely just hats off. I've watched tennis for 40, 50 years. I've never seen anything like this'.

All matches are live on ESPN and WatchESPN. Stephanie Brantz will host US Open Primetime at 8pm with a daily wrap on Aussies in action.