Shaun Johnson has pipped Johnathan Thurston as the most influential NRL star on social media, but it's the ranking of Jarryd Hayne that has raised most eyebrows.
HooZu, an influencer marketing agency with dual international Lote Tuqiri on its books, has provided Fairfax Media with a ranking of the league stars most engaged with their audiences on social media. The agency crunches the numbers after analysing data across a variety of platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, to rate which players best have the best interaction with their followers.
![Top of the pops: A new survey has ranked Shaun Johnson as the most influential NRL player on social media.](/web/20160903103059im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/h/c/p/o/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gr80nf.png/1472886024150.jpg)
Warriors playmaker Johnson finished top of the pops ahead of Thurston, followed by Brett Morris, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Cameron Smith, Michael Jennings, Greg Inglis, George Burgess, Josh Morris and Daly Cherry-Evans.
"He appeals to blokes who love their footy, love the way they play, but the young girls like him as well," Tuqiri said of Johnson.
"When you're always posting stuff with your shirt off, that helps, too."
Surprisingly, cross-code star Hayne – who has more than 212,000 Twitter followers – was ranked 16th. However, HooZu's metrics look at more than just follower numbers and analyse just how engaged an audience is with their favourite footballers on social media. However, Hayne is on an upward trajectory.
"Jarryd Hayne's fan bases is increasing rapidly – he has a reach of more than 1.1 million now – and he frequently posts content, generating an overall engagement rate of 2.2 per cent," said HooZu chief executive Nathan Ruff.
"Jarryd uses social media to express his passions, interest, heritage and personality to the world; and uses a lot of motivational thoughts in his posts to inspire his fans. He also engages back with fans, reposting fan photos."
Tuqiri, who experienced the rise of social media during the back end of his playing career, described the phenomenon as the "new world" of marketing and advertising.
"When I first started you might get a pair of boots contra off the club," Tuqiri said. "Now blokes can command up to $5000 for a post on social media going across all platforms."
![On the rise: Jarryd Hayne is a lowly 16th based on social media size and engagement.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160903103059im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/3/v/g/9/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1472875062604.png)
On the rise: Jarryd Hayne is a lowly 16th based on social media size and engagement. Photo: Ian Hitchcock
Top 20 NRL social media influencers
1. Shaun Johnson – 4.5 per cent engagement rate
2. Johnathan Thurston – 4 per cent
3. Brett Morris – 3.3 per cent
4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - 2.8 per cent
5. Cameron Smith - 2.8 per cent
6. Michael Jennings – 2.7 per cent
7. Greg Inglis – 2.6 per cent
8. George Burgess – 2.6 per cent
9. Josh Morris – 2.6 per cent
10. Daly Cherry-Evans – 2.5 per cent
11. Issac Luke – 2.5 per cent
12. Josh Dugan – 2.5 per cent
13. Corey Parker – 2.4 per cent
14. Manu Vatuvei – 2.3 per cent
15. Jared Waerea Hargreaves – 2.3 per cent
16. Jarryd Hayne – 2.2 per cent
17. Billy Slater – 2.2 per cent
18. Robbie Farah – 2.2 per cent
19. Sam Thaiday – 2.1 per cent
20. Sam Burgess – 2.1 per cent
Source: HooZu
Dragons pushed to pay
There was an attempt to rob at least one of the three St George Illawarra players during their infamous night out at Fever nightspot.
Tim Lafai, Siliva Havili and Dunamis Lui were enjoying a night out in Wollongong in July that went awry, resulting in Lafai and Havili being charged with affray and offensive behaviour. The trio interacted with a large group of men throughout the evening, with banter giving way to something more sinister as the night progressed.
The larger group were reaching for the Dragons' wallets and pressuring them to buy drinks, claiming they had to pay up after a regrettable year on the field. We've been told by several sources that a Dragons player was accosted en route to the bathroom and was told to hand over his wallet.
Knight signs with Roosters
The Roosters have signed troubled Manly forward Liam Knight.
Knight has made just one NRL appearance, cut short by a season-ending injury, but is better known for recording the worst driving offence in NRL history. The 21-year-old made headlines when he was clocked doing 137km/h in a 70km/h zone. Hoping to beat the breathalyser, he grabbed a can of Aerogard and sprayed it in his mouth. He registered 0.176 regardless. The Roosters had tried to sign the junior tennis champion previously and have decided to throw him a lifeline.
![Aeroguard fail: Liam Knight leaves court after pleading guilty to drink driving charges.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160903103059im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/b/2/6/2/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1461143138343.png)
Aeroguard fail: Liam Knight leaves court after pleading guilty to drink driving charges. Photo: Channel Nine
Inglis sighted north
One of our operatives spotted Greg Inglis at Brisbane airport during the week. The sight of GI up north will do little to dispel rumours of a potential switch to the Broncos.
Buck stops with McFadden
The Warriors' inability to make the play-offs yet again will likely result in coach Andrew McFadden getting the sack.
McFadden has a year to run on his contract, but the club's inability to fulfil its undoubted potential could prove costly. Warriors boss Jim Doyle isn't the type to make changes for the sake of it and wants the players to take their share of the responsibility. But the buck ultimately stops with the coach and there could be a new man in the role for 2017.
![Walking the plank: Warriors coach Andrew McFadden.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160903103059im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/3/r/u/m/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1472450890813.png)
Walking the plank: Warriors coach Andrew McFadden. Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung
Forward affair
Which very high-profile representative forward has been polishing his supposedly squeaky image while having an affair with a TV network personality? This despite the fact he is married with young children.
Slater running
Billy Slater has begun running at Storm training in the biggest indicator yet he will be fit to resume his glittering NRL career next season.
The sight of Slater working out alongside his Melbourne teammates raised hopes the Queensland and Australian fullback could make a shock finals return. While Slater is keen to return should the Storm progress deep into the finals series, club medicos have ruled him out as he continues his comeback from a serious shoulder problem.
Fifita well-behaved
Andrew Fifita's latest brush with the law won't affect his ability to attend junior football games in Sydney's west. Fifita's 12-month ban from the Penrith and District Junior Rugby League for abusing a referee expired about a month ago and the Cronulla prop was subsequently spotted watching a finals match. The NSW forward was well-behaved and, at this stage, his consorting notice from police isn't an issue with PDJRL officials.
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