to have feigned injury to kill Brisbane's momentum in a close 2007 win to Parramatta over the Broncos, Wayne Bennett, one of the most influential men in the code, came out strongly against his actions.
"You talk about ethics in our sport. You talk about not laying on the ground," Bennett said at the time.
"(He should be cited for) bringing the game into disrepute."
Hayne was accused for a second time that year in the Grand Final qualifier when he stayed down after a high shot and then threw the opposition a wink after being awarded the penalty. Again he was slammed by his opposition, the media and the fans alike.
Melbourne Storm premiership winner Clint Newton said: "To lay down like he did and then get up and wink, I don't think that's in the spirit of the game."
There are other examples - the fact that Hayne was used twice may reflect a personal bias - but the point remains, acting isn't accepted in other codes, and football needs to stamp it out in theirs.
Professional Footballers Australia aren't happy that players aren't being afforded the right to a trial, and the FFA may be forced to accommodate them with the threat of legal action looming, but by and large the process that saw the bans issued should be applauded.
And while PFA chief executive Brendan Schwab may have a valid point in claiming the denial of natural justice, you have to ask, 'what mitigating defence could either player have presented?'
The buzz around the sport isn't where many would like it in a World Cup year, but the players are providing entertaining matches, and good off-field decisions are being made.
The precedent has now been set, and if the A-League are consistent with their tough stance, diving in Australia will soon be a thing of the past.
It wouldn't quite be as good as winning the bid for 2022, but it'd still be a fair achievement.