That's the conundrum that the ARU faces over the coming weeks as speculation continues that Hayne could bypass an NRL comeback to test himself in Super Rugby.

It's a doubled-edged sword for ARU officials as they weigh up whether to invest money in Hayne, who would be massive drawcard for fans in a code that struggles for popularity.

The flipside is putting money into luring him to the game will spark anger at every club other than NSW.

The ARU has said it would not use the Wallabies top-up contract pool of money to convince Hayne to join a Super Rugby franchise.

It has been floated that some of the marketing budget could be used to get him into rugby, as well as helping him finalise a deal in Japan to boost his earning.

Tomane and Toomua are just two of the Australian players who have been lured abroad by big-money offers in Europe. They were told by the ARU there was no money left to increase their earnings.

If the ARU all of a sudden dig into the back cupboard to find some cash, where's it best spent?

The Michael Cheika Wallabies era has seen plenty of experienced players commit to returning to Australia as well as "Giteau Law" opening the door for them to juggle overseas contracts with Test duties.

For Tomane and Toomua, that's not possible because they don't meet the 60 Test threshold for "Giteau Law".

So what's better for rugby: investing in players who can help the Wallabies win a World Cup or using the Hayne Plane was a groundbreaking marketing ploy?

It worked when Israel Folau shifted codes and Hayne, a former Parramatta star and San Francisco 49er in the NFL, would attract more attention than anyone in Super Rugby.

He's ineligible to play for the Wallabies after a failed Rio Olympic Games campaign with the Fiji sevens team and he would have to be classified as a foreign marquee player at the Waratahs.

It's likely the money used to sign Hayne as a marketing ploy still wouldn't match some of the massive offers available in Europe that Tomane and Toomua signed anyway.

But the ARU will have to bend over backwards to help any other Australian franchise if the Brumbies launch a bid to sign Sonny Bill Williams in future years.

Dwindling crowds are setting off alarm bells and Hayne is one way to ensure a spike at Waratahs games in Sydney, but it's a pure marketing ploy with a short lifespan.

The same money that could be spent on Hayne could have been used to boost the Brumbies' coffers and help them attract a bigger crowd at their final on Friday night or divided around the cash-strapped clubs.

The Brumbies have ruled themselves out of trying to sign Hayne and the news caused more than a few feathers to be ruffled in Canberra.

The Brumbies farewelled their departing players at a function last weekend. Everyone knows about Tomane (Montpellier), Toomua (Leicester), Stephen Moore (Queensland) and David Pocock (sabbatical).

But less known is Michael Wells' move to the NSW Waratahs and scrumhalf Michael Dowsett searching for a new home as the Brumbies prepare to promote schoolboy Ryan Lonergan.

The Brumbies had to make a decision between Wells and Ben Hyne, who had season-ending surgery two weeks ago – for their 2017 roster.

The Brumbies also ruled out an SOS to winger Henry Speight this week for the finals as he edges closer to a spot as an Australian sevens reserve for the Rio Olympics.

Speight qualifies for the Super Rugby finals because he played the first four games of the season.

IS 28 THE RAIDERS' MAGIC NUMBER?

The Raiders have a chance to jump into the NRL's top four for the first time this late in a season since 2003, but more importantly they're close to the magic finals number to end their four-year drought.

Twelve wins is usually considered the mark for finals bound teams. Coupled with points from byes, that makes 28 the golden point for play-off hopefuls.

The Raiders are on 25 points and beating the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday would put them on the verge of breaking back into the finals for the first time since 2012.

Coach Ricky Stuart has created competition within his squad and players are responding to the new culture.

It seems almost impossible for the Raiders to slip out of premiership contention in the last seven games of the year and they should win at least two games.

"We always like to believe we can be there ... but one week at a time is far enough for us," said Sia Soliola.

"I think it's pretty clear that we need to bust out some good 80-minute grinding-style footy ... we're still building."

BIBBY BACKS AFL EQUALITY

The Canberra Capitals helped blaze the trail for equality and inclusiveness, but WNBL games record holder Jess Bibby believes the AFL's Pride Match will take it to the next level.

The Capitals wore the rainbow colours on their jerseys for their entire WNBL campaign last season, the first Australian sports team to do so.

But given the league wasn't broadcast on television and the AFL's much bigger profile, Bibby believes St Kilda's special jerseys against Sydney in round 21 will have a big impact.

The Swans will also wear rainbow socks during the match.

"It's good the footy codes are coming in because they're the ones with the big voice where people really stand up and take notice of what they say," Bibby said.

"Hopefully we [Capitals] were able to have people stand up and take note.

"It's good to see [a football team do it] and hopefully we're at a point in this day and age where you don't have to be making these outlandish statements because we're at a point where nobody cares, it doesn't matter.

"Traditionalists talking about the jerseys being changed, that went out years ago.

"It's become a money-making thing and an opportunity to make a statement. It's an easy way to make a statement."