We don't want to put another log on the fire. We really don't. We love our Wallabies.

But of all the weirdness we've heard this week about the ongoing saga involving Kurtley Beale and Di Patston comes another intriguing chapter.

When Beale fronts an ARU disciplinary hearing next week, it will be claimed that Patston approached him, as he warmed the bench during the Test against the Springboks in Cape Town late last month, about an unpaid hotel bill.

The bill related to an extra room Beale booked for his partner at the team's Gold Coast hotel when the Wallabies took on Argentina.

It will be claimed Patston raised the trivial issue of the unpaid bill after Wallabies winger Adam Ashley-Cooper scored in the 28th minute.

Understandably, Beale was stunned.

Later, on a flight to South America, he infamously ripped into Patston when she asked him to change into a team polo shirt.

It doesn't excuse his actions, but it is certainly interesting subtext.

The Wallabies lost that Cape Town match 28-10 after letting in three tries in the final 11 minutes.

You might recall Ewen McKenzie placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of his bench players in the wash up.

"All the players we brought in off the bench were pretty experienced players," McKenzie fumed. "I don't think there's any reason not to expect that you're going to maintain composure as you go along."

The allegation brings into further question Patston's confusing role with the Wallabies. She did not reply to a request for comment on Thursday.

Typically, the debate in the past week or so about the issues confronting McKenzie and the Wallabies has been muddied with hysteria and rhetoric.

Fairfax Media has rightfully investigated Patston's qualifications and role within the team, for the simple reason she wasn't well received by many within the Wallabies set-up.

Somehow, though, questioning Patston's credentials and McKenzie's actions is considered by some as an endorsement of Beale's derogatory Snapchat messages to Patston. That you are endorsing workplace harassment. That it's OK to send vile messages to a female and humiliate her.

Seriously? There are two separate issues here.

Right on cue, the usual keyboard warriors and commentators are making sweeping statements based purely on what they've read.

Indeed, it's been suggested to this column the text message conversation between Beale and Patston leaked to News Corp earlier this week had some glaring omissions.

Presumably, the truth will be set free once Beale's hearing takes place next week.

Or will it?

Beyond the crude nature of Beale's messages, surely Mckenzie needs to answer questions about what he knew and when – although it now seems likely he'll already be flying to Europe for the Wallabies' spring tour.

If the coach knew about this issue at the time, as has been claimed by the Beale camp, and didn't take action, how is his position as tenable as Beale's?

HAYNE'S DEPARTURE WILL HAVE ARU WORRIED, TOO

Meanwhile, Jarryd Hayne's decision to walk out of rugby league to pursue the bright lights of the NFL must have sent a shudder down the spine of ARU boss Bill Pulver.

Not because the Eels might be interested in Beale but more Israel Folau, who is off contract after next year's Rugby World Cup.

Folau and Beale are close, as you can gather by what he told Georgina Robinson on Thursday.

BRIAN LARA TO TEE UP IN AUSTRALIAN OPEN PRO-AM

World No.1 Rory McIlroy will return to Sydney to defend his Australian Open golf crown this summer, but we're slightly more interested in this news: Brian Lara will play in the pro-am at The Australian in the lead-up to the tournament.

Lara is coming to Australia through his association with golf professional Adam Wilcox, who met Lara at the US Masters a few years ago. Lara's tickets to the Masters fell through and Wilcox helped one of the greatest batsmen in living memory into Augusta.

PACKER MAKING LEAGUE HEAVYWEIGHTS NERVOUS

Billionaire James Packer is expected to finally buy out Peter Holmes a Court's half share in South Sydney in the next few weeks.

The thought of his arrival should be making a few people at League Central nervous, including the Australian Rugby League Commission board.

We've been told this week of a short, angry exchange between chairman John Grant and Packer at last month's Dally M awards at The Star.

Meanwhile, we're also told Sam Burgess reeled off five perfect speeches at the Red and Green Ball as he collected award after award last Friday night.

Burgess arrived late and departed early because he was in so much pain after having plates inserted into his head to fix his broken cheekbone.

He was supposed to depart for English rugby last Monday but has postponed the trip for two weeks because he's not allowed to fly post-surgery.

FITTLER, JOHNS SEARCH FOR NEXT HAYNE

Hayne has left rugby league for the NFL, but Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns have returned from their annual pilgrimage to Fiji – Hayne's country of heritage –having spotted some more outstanding Polynesian talent.

Several players have been placed on scholarships by sports clothing leader ISC, and will trial with a handful of Sydney clubs during summer.

ABBOTT IN AWE OF FEDERER

Sean Abbott might be one of the hottest young things in Australian cricket, having made his international debut in the one-day series against Pakistan this month, but he was notably star-struck when he spotted tennis legend Roger Federer in the Emirates business lounge in Dubai. Federer was on his way back from the Shanghai Masters, which he won.

Abbott was too nervous to approach Federer for a photo.

QUESTION & ANSWER – JIMMY CASSIDY

We speak to the "Pumper", who pilots John Singleton's Dear Demi in Saturday's Caulfield Cup.

Jimmy, what's doing?

Really good. My eldest daughter Nicole had her first baby 10 days ago, so I'm a grandad. I'm very proud of that.

You're too young to be a grandfather, surely. (Cassidy is 51).

You'd think so. I'm rapt. Very proud. She had the baby when I was at the Monday meeting at Randwick. I was just waiting for the text to come through. I left my phone in the stewards room. As soon as I found out, it was great.

Champion Hong Kong jockey Zac Purton is married to Nicole, and he said last week before the Caulfield Stakes: "Jimmy should let me win because I've got to pay for diapers these days."

[Laughs] I don't think he'll have any worry paying for diapers the way he's going.

How are you feeling ahead of the Caulfield Cup with Dear Demi?

Really happy. She's a good chance, it's an open race. On face value, she was a little disappointing at her last start. [Trainer] Clarry Conners has set her for this race. The rest is up to me now. She's a five-year-old mare and she's one of the toughest I've seen, given the amount of racing she's had and the calibre of races she's been in.

Much discussion with Singo?

Yeah, I've been talking to Singo. Had a laugh with him yesterday. He's in fine form, Singo.

Stories have appeared this week about the two of you falling out over this horse.

It was never really a fallout. It was when I got beaten on Dear Demi in the Oaks in Sydney. She was beaten nine lengths that day – not by a head.

How many times have you ridden for Singo over the years?

I've won the Slipper for him, the Oaks for him. I won a group race on More Strawberries ...

Does he give many instructions before the race?

Not really. "Just win for me, would ya? I need the money." I love him. He's a great man. He's good fun to be around.

THE QUOTE

"I can't just win. I have to look spectacular." American Malik Scott ahead of his bout against Alex Leapai in two weeks. If that's not a creed to live your life by, what is?

IT'S A BIG WEEKEND FOR ... 

Sydney FC, who have made some big noises this week about how their fans are louder and more numerous than Wanderers fans. It sets the scene for an explosive and hopefully flare-less affair – say that after three drinks – at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

IT'S AN EVEN BIGGER WEEKEND FOR ... 

Adam Ashley-Cooper, who becomes only the sixth player to reach 100 Tests for the Wallabies when he takes the field against the All Blacks. He deserves the milestone to be reached in happier times.

THUMBS UP

Apart from having an outstanding name, Chaz Mostert went from last to first to win the Bathurst 1000 on the last lap after waiting for Jamie Whincup's car to run out of fuel. "The last five laps all I could think of was, 'Cough, you bastard, cough!"' Mostert said. Whincup's car coughed, and Ford won.

THUMBS DOWN

Wigan prop Ben Flower has been rubbed out of rugby league for six months – 13 matches – for his brutal attack on St Helens' Lance Hohaia as he lay on the ground in the Super League grand final. In UFC, they applaud such cowardice. Flower should've been thrown out of the sport for life.