Rule change won't save Hayne this time
THE rule that saved Jarryd Hayne from suspension last year is unlikely to be his saviour this time.
Hayne will find out today whether he will be charged for an alleged headbutt on Corey Payne in Friday night's fiery Parramatta-Canterbury game at ANZ Stadium.
The NRL judiciary has changed the wording on incidents involving headbutts since a similar circumstance involving Melbourne and Queensland flyer Billy Slater.
Last year, the rules said Hayne's actions had "to cause injury or discomfort". The rule now states a player can be charged if he makes contact that is considered either unfair or excessive.
Hayne was the catalyst for the altercation on Friday night and means he is at greater risk of being sanctioned over his clash with Payne.
The match review committee will today take into account whether Hayne was provoked, and the amount of time between Payne's tackle -- which Hayne claims was the flashpoint -- and his reaction.
Last night, Parramatta officials were hopeful Hayne would not attract a striking charge.
But barrister Geoff Bellew SC has been asked to have a look at the incident.
Hayne's actions, and an altercation between Eels captain Nathan Hindmarsh and Michael Ennis dominated post-match discussions. Hindmarsh labelled the Bulldogs hooker a "grub".
The Parramatta and NSW fullback was falling in a tackle when Payne hit him with a swinging arm. Hayne got to his feet and took offence at what he considered a high shot and bumped heads with the Bulldogs player.
Payne then reacted to Hayne's aggression and punched the Eels No 1.
Both players were sent to the sin bin and had their actions placed on report for the match review committee to sort out today. Interestingly, Hayne probably should have been sent off if he was deemed guilty of a headbutt.
Bellew was the man who successfully appealed the last time Hayne faced a headbutt charge, in June last year, in the lead-up to State of Origin II with NSW trailing 0-1 in the series to Queensland.
Blues fans were incensed since Slater escaped any charge.
Now with the striking rules changed, Bellew would have to prove that in the act of headbutting, Hayne did not mean to do any harm to Payne.
