Laurie Daley and Michael Clarke slammed for shocking Jarryd Hayne comments after rape conviction

NRL great Laurie Daley has been blasted by footy fans for remarks he made on breakfast radio after Jarryd Hayne was found guilty of two counts of sexually assaulting a woman without her consent.

Hayne, 35, was found guilty following 21 hours of deliberations over a six-day trial and is expected to be sentenced on Thursday.

Daley, who coached the two-time Dally M-winner in State of Origin, was shocked and upset about the conviction news.

‘The Jarryd Hayne that I know, I couldn’t imagine him being part of that,’ Daley said on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.

‘But the jury have found him guilty, he has indicated he plans to appeal.

NRL great Laurie Daley has been blasted by footy fans for remarks he made after Jarryd Hayne was found guilty of two counts of sexually assaulting a woman without her consent

Hayne, 35, was found guilty following 21 hours of deliberations over a six-day trial and is expected to be sentenced on Thursday

‘I’ve always found Jarryd to be a guy that I had plenty of time for.

‘Obviously I haven’t stayed in touch with him since his footy career finished … but I always found him to be a very good person, someone that was an outstanding footballer.

‘But it’s terrible, all parties involved. I feel for everyone. I feel for the families, I feel for the victim.

‘But you feel for everyone associated, the victim and Jarryd’s family as well.

‘You never like to see this happen to anyone, particularly a high-profile player.’ 

Australian cricket legend Michael Clarke, who is a co-host on the radio show, said he believed that Hayne will now be stripped of his Dally M medals.

Clarke then added his own shocking take on the verdict: ‘It’s always sad when you see someone like Jarryd, who’s had so much success, who’s inspired so many young boys and girls, what he’s been through.’

The remarks made on the show, particularly Daley’s, have been heavily criticised on social media, with listeners outraged at the hosts for showing sympathy for the convicted rapist.

‘Imagine expressing any sympathies (for Hayne) because ‘I know him and he’s a good bloke’,’ one Twitter user wrote.

‘@bigsportsbrekky really poor form Laurie Daley. Jarryd Hayne has been found guilty of rape twice and settled a civil suit against him in the US for sexual assault. He’s a stand up guy,’ said another.

Australian cricket legend Michael Clarke, who is a co-host on the radio show, said, ‘It’s always sad when you see someone like Jarryd, who’s had so much success, who’s inspired so many young boys and girls, what he’s been through’

The remarks made on the show, particularly by Daley, have been heavily criticised on social media, with listeners outraged their take on the convicted rapist

‘Hey Laurie Daley, Jarryd Hayne is a CONVICTED rapist so this is obviously something he does and something he is. Just because you, as one of the boys, didn’t think he could do it doesn’t mean he didn’t. Ted Bundy was a great guy by all accounts,’ commented a third.

Another wrote: ‘Sickening. Would you feel the same if one of your family was Jarryd Hayne’s victim? Disgusting.’

Hayne said he will appeal against the verdicts when he spoke to reporters outside Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday and became angry when asked if he had any remorse.

‘Sorry?’ he asked, before a reporter asked: ‘Do you have any remorse, Jarryd?’

The footy star then replied: ‘For telling the truth?’

Earlier, Hayne had tears in his eyes when he said he was ‘devastated’ by the result.

‘I’m going to keep standing for the truth,’ he said, adding he maintained his innocence ‘100 per cent’.

Hayne pledged to appeal against the verdicts when he spoke to reporters outside Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday and became angry when asked if he had any remorse

‘I never lied to police, I never deleted evidence, I never hid witnesses – you do the math,’ Hayne said.

Hayne is facing a maximum sentence of 14 years behind bars, but he will be allowed to return to his home on the Central Coast with his wife before he goes into custody.