“Football has always been a huge part of my life, and getting back out there in a team environment is something I’ve truly missed. “I’m focused on having fun and enjoying the game again, contributing wherever I can, and putting in the hard work, week in, week out. I want to thank the club and the local community for their support. I’m excited for what’s ahead.” Hayne’s NRL career was cut short when he was charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent following an incident involving a 26-year-old woman in her Newcastle home on the night of the 2018 NRL grand final. He was found guilty twice following two trials, only for his convictions to be overturned on appeal. Hayne, who maintained his innocence throughout the four-year ordeal, walked out of prison a free man in June. The one-time NSW and Test player was one of the biggest names in Australian sport, first capturing the imagination in rugby league before a cross-code switch to the NFL. While he performed in front of packed American arenas during his brief stint for the San Francisco 49ers, the 37-year-old is expected to play before just a few hundred spectators at Wentworthville’s Ringrose Park on Sunday.