Last week former Wigan Warriors and Salford Red Devils star Jackson Hastings was left out of the Newcastle Knights side after their winless start to the season.
He was replaced in the halves by former Huddersfield Giants halfback and Challenge Cup Finalist Jack Cogger.
Cogger impressed last year as an understudy to Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai at NRL winners Penrith Panthers before making the switch to Newcastle and has now forced their star halfback from 2023 out of the 17.
The decision seemed to pay off with the Knights picking up their first win by defeating Melbourne Storm over the weekend and this week they have doubled down on the decision.
As they prepare for their clash with the New Zealand Warriors, the Knights have again elected to name Cogger in the halves and leave Jackson Hastings outside of the 17.
This only raises further questions about Hastings’ future. Could a return to Super League be on the cards?
Wigan Warriors star named in Knights squad
Credit Imago Images
The team news for the game is as follows: New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights, Go Media Stadium
Warriors team:1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Tohu Harris 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Marata Niukore 16. Bunty Afoa 17. Dylan Walker 18. Tom Ale 20. Jazz Tevaga 21. Chanel Harris-Tavita 22. Te Maire Martin 23. Ali Leiataua
Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Jed Cartwright 20. Thomas Cant 21. Will Pryce 22. Jackson Hastings
Former Wigan Warriors star Kai Pearce-Paul is included in the 17 whilst former teammate Hastings is not.
The former Wigan Warriors back-row is again set to start in the backrow alongside Tyson Frizell, a former transfer target of Hull KR.
Meanwhile, another signing the Knights made from the Super League, Will Pryce, is named in the squad but in the number 21 shirt.
This is right besides Jackson Hastings who is given the number 22 shirt for the game meaning he is unlikely to feature barring injury.
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