Ex-Wigan Warriors and Salford Red Devils star Jackson Hastings set for sensational move amidst contract dispute

Former Wigan Warriors and Salford Red Devils star Jackson Hastings has been one of the Wests Tigers most influential players in 2022.

With the Tigers having just three wins to their name in 2022, Michael Maguire was given his marching orders leaving a number of Wests players apparently in limbo after moving to Concord for the former Wigan Warriors boss to lead them.

One of those who has been linked with a move away has been Hastings whose switch to number 7 has helped to galvanise the struggling Tigers, but there is no shortage of suitors for the halfback.

In fact, one of those sides who are gunning for a potential deal is the Canterbury Bulldogs, with the Daily Telegraph today revealing that the Belmore side are ready to put all their eggs in one basket to grab Hastings and partner him with Matt Burton.

The Bulldogs themselves were terrible at the beginning in 2022, winning just two games with Trent Barrett being given his P45 after a terrible run of results.

Now, though, under Mick Potter, results have taken a considerable upturn, but could that be enough to lure Hastings to Belmore?

Maguire himself has been sensationally linked with the vacant Canterbury post, and, if the New Zealand head coach makes the move, Hastings has been rumoured to follow him.

The former Wigan Warriors man, who led Salford Red Devils to a Grand Final in 2019 and then Wigan the year after, has emerged as a potential target for Newcastle Knights as well in recent weeks.

The Knights have struggled for consistency in the halves with Jake Clifford, Adam Clune, Tex Hoy, Anthony Milford and Phoenix Crossland all having a shot there.

Brisbane Broncos may well appear as a target for Hastings, too, considering that a number of their halfbacks have been sat on the sidelines with Albert Kelly, Tyson Gamble and Adam Reynolds three of those.

Having said all that, Hastings’ club for the rest of 2022 has been revealed: he will not be leaving Wests immediately despite speculation, according to the Newcastle Herald which has revealed that he will not be under any consideration until November.

That being said, it is a completely different matter for 2023, with Hastings and Wests locked in a contract dispute whilst Hastings himself has no idea whether he will be kept on at the Tigers – and he will be played out of position at loose-forward in the Tigers’ round 18 fixture this weekend.

“I’m sort of fighting for my future as are the the rest of the players in that dressing room,” Hastings told Fox Sports.

“Whatever happens in the future with the club that’s the club’s decision, but us as players we have just got to put our best foot forward at training and whatever the coaching staff roll with we will roll with.”

And, with Parramatta Eels star Mitchell Moses linked with a huge move back to Wests, the future looks bleak for the former Wigan halfback at Concord.

“Mitchell did not want to move, he never wanted to move, he loves the club,” Balmain club legend Ben Elias told Fox Sports at the time.

“Rightfully, you look for stability. You look for everything that makes a footballer better and unfortunately the Tigers have had a rough trot. The last couple of years have been unsettling.”