Could former Wigan Warriors and Salford Red Devils star Jackson Hastings move back to Super League?

It’s a bold question, but one that deserves to be looked at.

Jackson Hastings will forever be remembered in two parts of the UK for the way in which he played the game of rugby league.

Those areas are of course Wigan and Salford.

The 26-year-old made the move to the Salford Red Devils at the back end of the 2018 Super League season, helping the club to stay in the competition.

After being idolised in such a short spell – a far cry away from his last stint in the NRL where he was forced out of Manly Sea Eagles – Hastings went from strength to strength in 2019, helping to guide Salford to a maiden Super League Grand Final.

The Red Devils eventually fell short to St Helens, but the Australian halfback had etched his name firmly into Salford folklore with an inspired season in which he won the Steve Prescott Man of Steel.

That superb season earned him a deal with the Wigan Warriors with whom he also helped to a Grand Final in 2020 where his new club was also unsuccessful against the same foe – St Helens.

Hastings was lauded by all those who came in contact with the 26-year-old, and, despite a poor season for the Warriors in 2021, the Australian earned himself a big deal back in the NRL with Wests Tigers.

Since then, the former Sydney Roosters star has been one of a few shining lights for the Concord club in what has been a difficult season so far.

Unfortunately for Hastings, after being so influential in recent weeks and months, he was the victim of a horrific hip-drop tackle that broke his ankle and landed Brisbane Broncos forward Patrick Carrigan with a judiciary appearance and a four-match ban.

That being said, Hastings has had to come out in defence of his own attitude against claims of him ‘unsettling’ the Wests’ dressing room whilst his future continues to be brought up time and time again.

At just 26, the playmaker has such a big future ahead of him and he knows that if it gets too much again in Australia that he would walk into any Super League side.

Could it happen? Hastings played the best rugby of his career in the UK, made friends for life and was idolised by fans. If the vitriol towards him continues Down Under, who’s to say that a Super League could not lure him back.