Gold Coast Titans NRL star Jarryd Hayne is expecting his first child with a friend he had known for just weeks.

The code hopping superstar, 28, was said to have been left stunned after Amellia Bonnici, 25, who he met via Instagram early this year, announced she was pregnant and expecting child at the end of the year.

media_camera MySpace photos from the account of Amellia Bonnici. media_camera She is expecting Jarryd Hayne’s baby later in the year.

media_camera Ms Bonnici (left) has now moved into Hayne’s Gold Coast apartment. Picture: Supplied

media_camera Jarryd Hayne of the Gold Coast Titans in action against the Broncos during the finals. Picture: Darren England.

Friends say the devout Christian, who joined the Hillsong Church in 2008, has now moved the Italian-born beauty into his Gold Coast apartment and promises to support her.

She was said to have been “nervous” about telling him because they were not officially dating and he was living in America at the time, according to New Idea magazine.

CEO of the Titans Graham Annesley confirmed the Western Sydney born athlete was expecting to become a father with Miss Bonnici but refused to provide further details.

“We never comment on players’ private lives,” he said.

The magazine claims the former NRL star, who quit Australia to chase his Olympic dream in the US with the Fiji Rugby Sevens, met Miss Bonnici while visiting Australia in February after months of pursuing his career abroad.

media_camera The pair met via Instagram while Hayne was in the US, pursuing his NFL dream with the 49ers. Picture: Getty.

OTHER NEWS: TIA PRISON ATTACK - BASHERS CHEERED ON

Despite the initial shock of learning he would become a father, the sporting legend is said to have welcomed the news and told Miss Bonnici he would support the pregnancy.

Hayne ditched the Parramatta Eels to play with the San Francisco 49ers last year, only to quit and failing to make the Fiji Rugby Sevens gold medal winning Olympic side.

Last month he rejoined the NRL signing a $1.2 million a season deal with the Titans.

Friends close to the sportsman, who was raised single-handedly by his mother Jodie, said he relocated back to Australia so that he could build on his new relationship.

Hayne is the son of former Fijian and Rabbitohs’ star Manoa Thompson.

He grew up between Minto and Airds near Campbelltown where he lived in a housing commission residence and was raised by Jodie and grandmother Robin while his father chased a career overseas.

Originally published as Jarryd Hayne expecting first child