The Ron Massey Cup, which is a Sydney-based third-tier competition below the reserves grade NSW Cup, will be garnering a lot of additional attention this week with the infamous former Parramatta Eels and Gold Coast Titans representative to appear in the competition for the first time.
Hayne was hopeful of making his debut for former NSW Cup side Wentworthville Magpies in round one but the 37-year-old was set back by a series of hamstring injuries.
The club described his inclusion as "a massive IN" on social media on Tuesday when publishing their matchday squad for the match against the Canterbury Bulldogs thirds, with Wentworthville's decision to give the formerly convicted criminal a second chance earning widespread praise on their Facebook page.
Hayne underwent a legal battle of more than five years related to separate sexual offences, being sentenced in May 2023 to four years and nine months in prison for a rape offence before winning an appeal and being freed in June 2024. Prosectors then agreed to drop the charges against Hayne and not pursue a fourth trial.