The venue has some of the biggest names in sport on its books, including Israel Folau, Kieran Jack, Greg Inglis, Brett Emerton, Luke Brooks and Josh Reynolds. ANZ Stadium officials were keen to add an Eels star to the list of ambassadors, given the club plays two of its home games in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct. Officials from the Eels and the venue had locked in Hayne for the plum gig on a deal understood to be worth six figures. But Hayne's decision to test himself in American football cost him another pay cheque and powerbrokers are yet to lock in a replacement Eels identity.

It is a great credit to Hayne that he risked it all for what has turned out to be a $115,000 sign-on fee with San Francisco, given that figure would have been his monthly salary had he decided to remain with Parramatta. The risk may turn out to be worth the reward if he can make the 49ers' 53-man roster, as he stands to make more than $2 million in the next three years.

In the doghouse

There was a national security breach on Friday night that left Des Hasler badly compromised. In footage that quickly went viral, the Nine Network showed how an ANZ Stadium patron, in a scene straight out of Spies Like Us, permeated the cone of silence that is Hasler's coaching box with a wineglass.

There is no man more protective of his intellectual property, but the premiership-winning coach was foiled by rat cunning that would make Maxwell Smart proud. Rather than leave it to ASIO or the overwhelmed integrity unit, we took it upon ourselves to find the culprit. In this world exclusive interview, Bulldogs fan Barry Nakhoul opened up about the night he tapped into the dark recesses of Hasler's mind.

"I just wanted a bit of an insight into how he does it all," Nakhoul said.

"Everybody keeps talking about how he goes off. I certainly heard a few one liners, but I don't want to give away any trade secrets because I'm a Doggies supporter.

"Des will be cool with it. He knows we're Bulldogs supporters. We spoke before the game and we were just having a bit of fun."

Hasler is confident his secrets will remain safe.

"He had the glass around the wrong way anyway," Hasler told Triple M. "He had the stalk to the wall. If he is a spy, I wouldn't be paying him."

Hopoate happenings

Will Hopoate has alreadyseen two of his Parramatta teammates, Danny Wicks and Manu Ma'u, play in the NRL after stints in jail. The Eels fullback hopes his younger brother, Jamil, gets the same opportunity. Jamil was jailed for at least a year after assaulting a man outside the Ivanhoe Hotel.

"He's doing all right, we visit him often and he still seems to have a smile on his face and is positive about the situation," Hopoate said. Asked if he should be given another chance to play NRL, the Origin star said: "Yeah, that would be great. He's obviously going through a tough experience at the moment but hopefully it will be for the better and he can learn from it."

Another of Will's younger brothers, John Hopoate, is following in the footsteps of his namesake and father by playing for Manly and earning selection in a NSW under 18s camp. And there could be more Hopoates infiltrating the NRL.

"I've got six brothers and they all play, whether it's SG Ball or junior grades," Will said.

"I'd love all of them to make it but it's a bit too early to tell – they're like six and 10 and 12 [years old]."

Simona sibling

Penrith have signed Australian schoolboys centre Paul Simona on a one-year deal. The former Shark aspires to make his NRL debut in the near future so he can mark up on big brother, Wests Tigers three-quarter Tim Simona.

Watch this space

Cronulla players ran out last weekend in jerseys with a blank space where their major sponsor should be emblazoned. However, Sharks chief executive Lyall Gorman is confident that won't be the case for much longer and that a backer will be signed in coming months.

Jets fly high

The mighty Newtown Jets, now the feeder team for Cronulla, have a proud history of developing NRL talent. Last week alone, there were 38 players in first grade who had represented the Blue Bags including Nate Myles, Sam Perrett, Willie Mason, Jamie Soward and Beau Scott.

Balmain battlers

We revealed during the week that foundation club Balmain feared it was destined to fold if Leichhardt Council went ahead with a proposal to rezone the site of the clubhouse in Rozelle. There has been plenty of angst from all parties since, although Leichhardt mayor Rochelle Porteous has publicly pledged to make the return of the Tigers to their historic home "top priority". The Rozelle Village development saga has gone on for a decade and Balmain have pointed the finger at the council for leaving them financially destitute, resulting in them playing no active role in the Wests Tigers joint venture.

"The Tigers find themselves in this situation, in most part, because of obstacles placed in the way of the development by both Leichhardt Council and the previous Labor state government, which forced the club to leave Rozelle to make ways for a metro station that was never built," Balmain said in a statement. "The club's directors cannot keep operating with so much uncertainty hanging over the club."

Shepherd shunted

Lawrence Shepherd has had his Parramatta directorship suspended following allegations he acted prejudicial to the interests of the club. Shepherd has been cited to appear before a disciplinary committee of the Parramatta Leagues Club after the Eels board received allegations from senior management over his conduct in incidents last September and last month. The board was reluctant to act but believes the incidents are part of a pattern of behaviour and it's expected he will face the charges later this month. Shepherd earned notoriety following his behaviour at a Bruno Mars concert last year when he was the guest of Paul Langmack in a corporate box.