Former Wigan Warriors and Salford Red Devils star Jackson Hastings has been targeted by vile abuse during the first-half of Wests Tigers’ fixture against North Queensland Cowboys at the weekend.
Wests went down 36-12 to the Cowboys in the Magic Weekend Round at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium but a spectator was ejected from the venue after allegedly directing deeply personal abuse towards Hastings.
It is understood Hastings complained to officials at the ground after claiming the spectator screamed out derogatory comments about his family as he went to take a conversion as the first-half wound down.
The Daily Telegraph has reported that one of the individuals involved in the incident has been charged with disorderly conduct. with a number of witnesses allegedly confirming the comments were aimed at Hastings’ sister.
Officials identified the alleged culprit in a speedy fashion before he was escorted from the ground by police, with police able to identify the culprit after reviewing the NRL’s Hawkeye footage.
What really shook Hastings was that the person who made the threats identified his two sisters by name.
“That really got under his skin – as you can imagine it would – no one should have to cop that,” a Tigers source told Wide World of Sports.
Fan escorted from Suncorp Stadium for making derogatory comments about Jackson Hastings’ family.
Hastings complained after a conversion. @TripleM_NRL @NRLonNine pic.twitter.com/XZlR0hXMXI
— Emma Lawrence (@emmalawrence90) May 15, 2022
Hastings has been a revelation since returning to the NRL after over three years in Super League where he spent almost two years at Salford Red Devils, winning the Man of Steel, before moving on to the Wigan Warriors.
He joined Wests ahead of the 2022 NRL season.
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