FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.8.0_25"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_25-b17)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.25-b02, mixed mode)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Darwin Daniels-MacBook-Pro.local 14.0.0 Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Fri Sep 19 00:26:44 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2782.1.97~2/RELEASE_X86_64 x86_64

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
public static someMethod(){
if(MobileController.testUserAgent()){
 // some code needs to get executed here...
}
}

testUserAgent - is a static method that returns a boolean after some evaluation.

In 1.7 code works fine. in 1.8 I get language errors that seem to be some sort of casting error.
Type 'java/lang/Object' (current frame, stack[0]) is not assignable to 'java/lang/String' (from method signature)

Could this be an issue with the new implementation with the new lambda notations and calling a method/static method in a conditional if?

--Here is the full error--
Execution exception (In /app/controllers/MainSystemController.java around line 100)
VerifyError occured : Bad return type Exception Details: Location: controllers/MobileController.mobileCrossSite()Ljava/lang/String; @20: areturn Reason: Type 'java/lang/Object' (current frame, stack[0]) is not assignable to 'java/lang/String' (from method signature) Current Frame: bci: @20 flags: { } locals: { top, 'java/lang/Object' } stack: { 'java/lang/Object' } Bytecode: 0x0000000: b800 7101 a700 0b4d 014c b800 732c bf4c 0x0000010: b800 752b b0 Exception Handler Table: bci [0, 7] => handler: 7 Stackmap Table: same_locals_1_stack_item_frame(@7,Object[#94]) same_locals_1_stack_item_frame(@15,Object[#37])

play.exceptions.JavaExecutionException: Bad return type
Exception Details:
  Location:
    controllers/MobileController.mobileCrossSite()Ljava/lang/String; @20: areturn
  Reason:
    Type 'java/lang/Object' (current frame, stack[0]) is not assignable to 'java/lang/String' (from method signature)
  Current Frame:
    bci: @20
    flags: { }
    locals: { top, 'java/lang/Object' }
    stack: { 'java/lang/Object' }
  Bytecode:
    0x0000000: b800 7101 a700 0b4d 014c b800 732c bf4c
    0x0000010: b800 752b b0
  Exception Handler Table:
    bci [0, 7] => handler: 7
  Stackmap Table:
    same_locals_1_stack_item_frame(@7,Object[#94])
    same_locals_1_stack_item_frame(@15,Object[#37])

at play.mvc.ActionInvoker.invoke(ActionInvoker.java:237)
at Invocation.HTTP Request(Play!)
Caused by: java.lang.VerifyError: Bad return type
Exception Details:
  Location:
    controllers/MobileController.mobileCrossSite()Ljava/lang/String; @20: areturn
  Reason:
    Type 'java/lang/Object' (current frame, stack[0]) is not assignable to 'java/lang/String' (from method signature)
  Current Frame:
    bci: @20
    flags: { }
    locals: { top, 'java/lang/Object' }
    stack: { 'java/lang/Object' }
  Bytecode:
    0x0000000: b800 7101 a700 0b4d 014c b800 732c bf4c
    0x0000010: b800 752b b0
  Exception Handler Table:
    bci [0, 7] => handler: 7
  Stackmap Table:
    same_locals_1_stack_item_frame(@7,Object[#94])
    same_locals_1_stack_item_frame(@15,Object[#37])

REGRESSION. Last worked in version 7u72

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
I am working with play framework 1.2.7
this method is being called out a class that extends a controller class.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
I expect no error to be thrown when I call a function in a conditional evalutator.
ACTUAL -
Compilation error...

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
Execution exception (In /app/controllers/MainSystemController.java around line 100)
VerifyError occured : Bad return type Exception Details: Location: controllers/MobileController.mobileCrossSite()Ljava/lang/String; @20: areturn Reason: Type 'java/lang/Object' (current frame, stack[0]) is not assignable to 'java/lang/String' (from method signature) Current Frame: bci: @20 flags: { } locals: { top, 'java/lang/Object' } stack: { 'java/lang/Object' } Bytecode: 0x0000000: b800 7101 a700 0b4d 014c b800 732c bf4c 0x0000010: b800 752b b0 Exception Handler Table: bci [0, 7] => handler: 7 Stackmap Table: same_locals_1_stack_item_frame(@7,Object[#94]) same_locals_1_stack_item_frame(@15,Object[#37])

play.exceptions.JavaExecutionException: Bad return type
Exception Details:
  Location:
    controllers/MobileController.mobileCrossSite()Ljava/lang/String; @20: areturn
  Reason:
    Type 'java/lang/Object' (current frame, stack[0]) is not assignable to 'java/lang/String' (from method signature)
  Current Frame:
    bci: @20
    flags: { }
    locals: { top, 'java/lang/Object' }
    stack: { 'java/lang/Object' }
  Bytecode:
    0x0000000: b800 7101 a700 0b4d 014c b800 732c bf4c
    0x0000010: b800 752b b0
  Exception Handler Table:
    bci [0, 7] => handler: 7
  Stackmap Table:
    same_locals_1_stack_item_frame(@7,Object[#94])
    same_locals_1_stack_item_frame(@15,Object[#37])

at play.mvc.ActionInvoker.invoke(ActionInvoker.java:237)
at Invocation.HTTP Request(Play!)
Caused by: java.lang.VerifyError: Bad return type
Exception Details:
  Location:
    controllers/MobileController.mobileCrossSite()Ljava/lang/String; @20: areturn
  Reason:
    Type 'java/lang/Object' (current frame, stack[0]) is not assignable to 'java/lang/String' (from method signature)
  Current Frame:
    bci: @20
    flags: { }
    locals: { top, 'java/lang/Object' }
    stack: { 'java/lang/Object' }
  Bytecode:
    0x0000000: b800 7101 a700 0b4d 014c b800 732c bf4c
    0x0000010: b800 752b b0
  Exception Handler Table:
    bci [0, 7] => handler: 7
  Stackmap Table:
    same_locals_1_stack_item_frame(@7,Object[#94])
    same_locals_1_stack_item_frame(@15,Object[#37])

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.