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Jarryd Hayne and his partner, Amellia, shared a snap of themselves taking their young children to their first-ever State of Origin game on Wednesday evening.
Unfortunately for Hayne, a former New South Wales player, the match resuld didn't quite end up how he would have liked, with the Blues failing to retain the shield.
Billy Slater's Queensland side thumped their rivals 24-12, with New South wales being swept away by their rivals, after the Maroons took a 20-0 lead at half-time.
Hayne made 23 appearances for New South Wales during his 12-year career in footy's top flight, and ranks joint-top as the side's all-time top try scorer (11) alongside Josh Addo-Carr and Michael O'Connor.
On Wednesday night, the 2009 Dally M medallist donned a blue NSW hoodie, while his children also wore New South Wales hoodies and Blues baseball caps.
The family beamed from ear to ear as they soaked up the electric atmosphere inside the Accor Stadium.
Jarryd Hayne and his wife Amellia shared pictures of themselves and their children on Facebook inside the Accor Stadium on Wednesday night watching State of Origin III
Hayne added a caption to the images stating that this was his kids' first-ever State of Origin match
The family lapped up the atmosphere as both teams ran out for the crunch decider, but ultimately there was heartbreak for ex-NSW player Hayne as the Blues side came unstuck against the Maroons
'Taking our babies to their first Origin game. Wasn’t our night last night but couldn’t wipe the smile from their faces,' Hayne wrote on Facebook, adding a 'love heart' emoji.
Hayne had signed for the San Francisco 49ers back in 2015 before leaving the NFL franchise the following year.
He met his wife Amellia upon returning to Australia and the pair later got engaged in 2020 before they were wed in a secret ceremony on Australia Day in January 2021.
Hayne was sentenced to three years behind bars in 2023 after a court found him guilty of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent - a conviction which was overturned a year later. He was freed from prison in June 2024 after the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal quashed the conviction.
Hayne has since returned to footy, signing a deal to play with the Wentworthville Magpies in February, before turning out to play for the Western Sydney side in the Ron Massey Cup.
Hayne had last stepped foot on a rugby league pitch back in 2018, while he was still on the books at Parramatta.
He had previously signed to play for the United Sporting Club in the January Nines Premier League on the Gold Coast, but a hamstring injury had hampered his playing time.
The 37-year-old has returned to the footy pitch this season, signing for the Wentworthville Magpies
In May, Hayne stepped back onto the footy pitch and helped guide the Pies to a victory against the Western Bulldogs
In May, he'd finally make his return to play and showed no signs of rustiness as he led Wentworthville to a comeback victory against the Bulldogs at Ringrose Park.
'It was good for about 70 minutes, then the last 10 killed me,' Hayne told Channel 9.
'Good to get the 80 [minutes] though, we've got the bye [round] next week so I'll be recovering.'
The 37-year-old, who also won 11 caps for the Kangaroos, looked delighted to be back out on the pitch again, stating: 'For me, it's about playing footy and having fun again.'
He had also previously opened up on his desire to play footy in front of his kids.
'Grateful to be back playing the game I love,' he said, following the announcement he had joined the Magpies.
'Never did I imagine that I would ever come back. I am excited to begin my journey at a family club like Wenty, especially to play in front of my children, which was part of the reason that inspired me to come back.
'Thank you for all the support.'
The former Eels player has also spent time in the last 10 months working with the Fiji rugby league national team as a mentor for the squad
In October 2024, Hayne also linked up with Fiji's rugby league side for their Pacific Championship campaign.
The 37-year-old was employed as a mentor for the squad.
Hayne had represented the Fijian rugby league side on 10 occasions during his career, while also switching codes in 2016 to play for the Fiji Sevens side for five matches.
He had hoped to secure a spot with the team for the 2016 Olympics but was not picked as part of the squad to travel to Rio, instead returning to the NRL to play for the Gold Coast Titans.
