Jarryd Hayne's remarkably close relationship to Hillsong chief pastors Brian, Bobbie Houston

Hillsong's top pastors struck up a remarkably close relationship with Jarryd Hayne, the Australian rugby league star and American football player jailed for raping a young woman last week. Hillsong's top pastor Brian Houston went out of his way to have a drink with Jarryd Hayne when the athlete was pursuing his American football dream. Above, Hayne warms up at a match in California in 2015 Supportive messages: Bobbie Houston offers Hayne 'home made vege soup' after he complained about a leg injury and dental work in December 2010 Brian Houston sometimes signed off his tweets to Hayne with 'luv ya', above Hayne's support for the church followed him from Australia to the United States. Hayne was found guilty of the aggravated sexual assault of a young woman at her home in Newcastle Brian Houston congratulated Hayne and his lover Amellia Bonnici when they announced their engagement last year Hayne's public exchanges with the Houstons dried up in 2016, although Mr Houston sent his good wishes to Hayne upon his engagement last year to his now-wife Amellia Bonnici.