Possible homecoming: Jarryd Hayne. Credit:AAP It would be a serious risk for Arthur and everything he has built in the past two years to let such a disruptive force back in, especially with Hayne no longer the game-breaker he once was. More than that, he's earned the ugly reputation of being a coach killer. Parramatta are adamant their ethos is too strong and Arthur too staunch to let Hayne poison what has been established since the salary-cap scandal last year. Arthur continues to impress. In his early days at the Eels, some players often whinged that he was too militant. One player joked he was too scared to smile in the coach's presence. Perhaps he's softened. Whatever Arthur's methods are, they can't be disputed. Parramatta finished the regular season in fourth position and should've beaten Melbourne in the first week of the finals. It's generally accepted Hayne has already stitched up a deal for one season at Parramatta but numerous club figures say it's not done quite yet.

The Eels have made it clear in early discussions, though, that he would be returning on their terms, and for far less than his $1.2illion he's presently on at the Titans. Let's not underestimate the power shift at play here. For years, Parramatta needed Hayne and coaches lived or died by which side of the bed he rolled out of that morning. Now Hayne needs his old club more than ever. He's been committed for Fiji at this World Cup but hardly brilliant. He's 29 and has a point to prove in the remaining few years as an athlete. Does he want to prove it, though? There's a whole junkyard of coaches who weren't able to unlock Hayne, often whinging out loud about how puzzling he can be to coach. Arthur considers that to be his job: to get the best out of Hayne, not bemoan about how hard he is to mentor. The pair enjoyed a strong relationship in 2014 before Hayne pursued his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers. If Arthur can make it work, Hayne joins a back line — probably at centre — featuring Corey Norman, Mitchell Moses, Bevan French, Clint Gutherson and Michael Jennings. Anyho, it will be another interesting paragraph in the enduring ballad of Jarryd Lee Hayne, although he does make weary rugby league hacks feel like Michael Corleone in Godfather III.

Just when they think they've written their last column about him, he pulls them back in. ROOSTERS SURE PEARCE HAS A HOME The Roosters are convinced Mitchell Pearce already has a deal in place for next season, and they believe it's with Manly. On the move: Mitchell Pearce. Credit:AAP He was so calm and collected about asking coach Trent Robinson for an unconditional release from his current contract – which means he stops getting paid – they believe he must have somewhere else to go. All eyes, now, on the Roosters and whether this dramatic change was worth it. Some players, such as captain Boyd Cordner, wanted Cooper Cronk at the club. Others did not and wanted more faith shown in Pearce.

ANGE'S DEPARTURE DIMINISHES LEGACY FFA boss David Gallop tried to convince Ange Postecoglou to stay on as Socceroos coach until next year's World Cup in Russia. Even when the notion of more money was raised, Postecoglou wasn't interested. Which is interesting. Nobody around the corridors of power at the FFA seems to know why he's gone. He mentioned the toll the role has taken on his family life, but didn't outright say that was the reason. It's impossible to not admire Ange, but he cannot ask every stakeholder in the game to "buy in" as he did when he first got the job and then walk away and say, "It was time" and not expect his legacy to be diminished. THE QUOTE "F--- Donald Trump, bitch. They should suspend your dumb ass, motherf---er. F---, all the goofy shit you do every day. When you gonna get suspended? F--- you, I'm with Marshawn Lynch, n----r."

— I'm sensing Snoop Dogg is not happy with Donald Trump's call for the Oakland Raiders star to be suspended for dropping a knee during the US national anthem. THUMBS UP Four 'N Twenty has signed a multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal with the Philadelphia 76ers in the wake of Ben Simmons' jaw-dropping start to his NBA career, meaning hundreds of dog's eyes will be sold at home games. Let's hope it comes with instructions when said pie is hotter than hell. As we all know, there's a fine art to it. THUMBS DOWN Whaaaat? Opals centre Liz Cambage, playing for the Melbourne Boomers, gives Canberra's Mistie Bass a classic schoolyard dead leg with a sneaky knee from behind and the WNBL review panel suspends her for only two matches? Not cool.

IT'S A BIG WEEKEND FOR... Jordan Spieth and Jason Day as they battle it out for the Australian Open, trying to win the Stonehaven Cup and $1 million in prizemoney — on top of their $1m appearance fee. Life. Be in it. Loading IT'S AN EVEN BIGGER WEEKEND FOR... Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore, who has declared Sunday morning's Test against Scotland will be his last game of professional rugby. Good luck to him. And, dear readers, good luck to you.

Q&A: Kerry O'Keeffe Former spinner, current caller: Kerry O'Keeffe.