Jackson Hastings is just 22 years old, yet he may not get another chance to play in the NRL.
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are desperate to unload him after a pair of altercations with club captain Daly Cherry-Evans. The Sydney Roosters released him after falling out with senior players, including hooker and captain Jake Friend, and the St George Illawarra Dragons were not unhappy to lose him as a 17-year-old at the end of 2013.
Jackson Hastings is the son of Roosters legend Kevin ‘Horrie’ Hastings and was an Illawarra junior, coming through the junior ranks in Wollongong. While representing the New South Wales under 16s and under 18s, he rose to the St George Illawarra Holden Cup side in 2013.
In his time at the Dragons he put a few noses out of place before signing a three-year deal to join the Sydney Roosters from 2014. He made his first-grade debut in the final round of 2014 and became a regular bench utility in 2015.
With the departure of James Maloney from the Roosters at the end of that season and with Mitchell Pearce’s eight-match suspension to begin 2016, Hastings became the dominant Roosters play-maker, but it was a role he struggled in. He was dropped twice and played only 15 games as the Roosters fell to second-last on the table.
(AAP Image/Brendan Esposito)
Off-field problems arose and disagreements with senior players, most notably Jake Friend, saw Hastings released to Manly for 2017.
Hastings’s arrival at Manly saw him play nine first-grade games (eight off the bench) in 2017, spending most of his time playing for Blacktown in the Intrust Super Premiership. In 2018 he played four of the Sea Eagles’ first five games before the wheels fell off.
He was ruled out of their Round 6 clash with Wests Tigers at Lottoland with an Achilles injury, but it was soon revealed that he was actually dropped after a training fight with Daly Cherry-Evans. Manly tried to play it off, with Cherry-Evans describing it as a “lovers’ tiff”, but there was more to it.
Revelations of a second brawl between the pair afterwards and rumours of altercations with two other teammates surfaced.
The reports continued to get worse for Hastings when it was revealed that Manly had organised a meeting in the preseason between Hastings, his manager, Sea Eagles officials, the Rugby League Players Association and a welfare officer due to behavioural and attitude concerns. The Manly welfare department will continue to work with him to ensure his wellbeing.
(AAP Image/Paul Miller)
Coach Trent Barrett revealed his concerns for Hastings as a ticking time bomb, and he also confirmed that he would not be selected in the first-grade side again in 2018. Manly has launched their own investigation into the incident and many Sea Eagles players want nothing to do with him.
Hastings is out of contract at the end of this season, although Manly would love to see him go sooner in order to free up space in the salary cap. However, given his track record, it seems unlikely that any side would take a risk on him.
If he is able to pick up another contract, he will surely make an effort not to screw it up again. Alternatively, the best thing he could do is spend some time away from the game and get his attitude and priorities straight.
The good news for him is that he’s only 22, so he has time – he has his whole career ahead of him. Hopefully Horrie can help him pull his head in, otherwise he may join the career graveyard with so many other talented young players.
terrence
Guest
kk, good point. Reynolds is darn good but has been a bit injury prone. but Souths also have the luxury of a just resigning Adam Doueihi, brilliant young player on the rise. Unfazed. But the chooks and dogs are a bit skinny in the 6 or 7 role, lachlan lam on the way up for the chooks, both teams lack depth in the 6 and 7, especially the dogs. enjoy the weekend.
kk
Guest
I have the highest respect for Adam Reynolds but he seems to be injury prone. Souths could do worse than consider a no nonsense contract with Jackson.
terrence
Guest
After tonight's performance I'd be surprised if both Trent Robinson and especially Dean Pay weren't calling Manly saying we'll pay his contract and give you an additional $250k for Jackson Hastings. That way Jackson Hastings would be the senior player and would be able give crap to all the other squad members. For both of those clubs, Jackson Hastings would be the buy of the year. Many on the Bulldogs forum, thekennel, are saying the same thing.
Tom G
Guest
It’s a real shame because he’s quite useful. Probably got all bent out of shape when Croker was preferred ahead of him. I always thought it was strange when that decision was made given his 1st grade experience advantage, however it all makes sense why this decision was made. Hope he can bail soon to UK or wherever to free up some cash.
Paul
Roar Guru
It doesn't matter where Hastings plays, be it the UK comp or Group footy in Australia, he clearly needs guidance and support so he straightens himself out. It might even be good for him to give the game away for a time and work like us mere mortals who don't have his talent. At least he'd have to learn discipline & teamwork, otherwise his time in any job would be limited.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
I don't think he has much to do with his dad - i could be wrong on that. I would also tred carefully with this one if I were Manly. Hearing the things that may have caused this friction between him and DCE, it might seem like horse play but in the PC world we live in, if it is seen as bullying, they might want to make sure they have their ducks in a row.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
From all reports thus far, it sounds like the kid has some mental issues, including attitude and ego problems. It's a sad story because the kid has talent. I hope he gets the professional help he needs and hopefully an NRL or ESL club picks him up at some point in the future.
Forty Twenty
Guest
He needs to vacate the premises right away for his and Manly's own good. Play in England or French rugby and have another go in the NRL if he grows up. He would have been very handy at Manly if he did fit in but the gamble didn't pay off.
Nat
Roar Guru
Agree with at UK, I seen heard all the cudos when he stepped into the top grade at the Roosters but didn't think much of him at that level nor did I know how old he was. Then I seen him in the 20s killing it and thought he has a huge future. Turns out he thought that too. It's a long way to fall when you've always been the best until you're not.
uglykiwi
Roar Pro
It is a shame. I was very happy when the Roosters signed him.... in the lower grades he looked a gun. But he never delivered; and the worst thing was that they let Maloney go to keep him....... hindsight is a wonderful thing; but oh goss, what a mistake that was I did keep hearing that the Roosters did need to widen the entrance tunnel into SFS for him!! maybe this will be the humbling experience he needs, but very like Paul Carter, maybe some people just dont learn. He has one option in my opinion, pack up and sign a deal to play in the UK; and learn to be humble!!! This is his only chance to have any NRL career in the future.
Gray-Hand
Guest
The fact that three clubs have let him go suggests that: 1) He has a personality disorder of epic proportions; and 2). Not enough talent for clubs to bother to overlook it. There doesn’t seem to be any reason to mourn his departure.