Ex-Wigan Warriors and Salford Red Devils star Jackson Hastings breaks silence on future

Jackson Hastings is a name that is on everyone’s lips at present after taking the NRL by storm upon his return.

After almost four years in the UK Super League, the Australian halfback earned himself a deal back Down Under with the Wests Tigers and has impressed in a struggling side.

However, with Michael Maguire’s sacking – the coach who brought Hastings to the club ahead of the 2022 season – there have been question marks over where the halfback’s future lies with the Canterbury Bulldogs reportedly interested in bringing the 26-year-old to Belmore.

Now, though, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, it is the Newcastle Knights that have had discussions about luring Hastings to Newcastle for 2023.

Hastings is contracted to the Tigers until the end of 2023, but his management are close with Newcastle’s recruitment manager Clint Zammit.

The former Wigan Warriors and Salford Red Devils man is currently on a deal worth $375,000 in 2022, but that increases to around $500,000 next season.

But, despite the speculation and the apparent unhappiness with Maguire’s sacking, Hastings has moved on and is determined to put the past behind him and move on with Brett Kimmorley in charge.

“When you form a bond with someone and it gets taken away from you pretty fast with no warning it does hit you hard,” Hastings told the Wests Tigers website.

“Madge (Maguire) gave me a chance when a lot of people didn’t want to give me a crack.

“He put a lot of effort in and got to know my family. It was more an emotional level than a work level and you never want to see anyone lose their job.”

“He’s got his New Zealand gig now that he’s doing very well at. We’ve moved on as a club, I’ve moved on, Madge has moved on and Brett is our coach now and I’m looking forward to playing well under him.”