Jackson Hastings has officially put his hand up to play for England at this autumn’s Rugby League World Cup down under.
Hastings is preparing for the start of his first season back in Super League after joining up with St Helens on a one-year deal. The switch brings an end to a four-year stint in the NRL and sees him return to the competition where he made his name as a younger man, having starred for Salford Red Devils and Wigan Warriors.
It was during his time with the Red Devils that he got the call up to represent Great Britain under then national team head coach Wayne Bennett, with the Australian-born Hastings being eligible through his mother’s side of the family.
He made four appearances on that ill-fated tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. He has never featured for England, though, and he was never involved in the international set up under Shaun Wane, who left his position last month and will be replaced by a new man before the autumn.
However, Hastings returns to the Northern Hemisphere with the goal of earning a spot in the England squad, with the scrum-half nailing his international colours firmly to the mast.
Jackson Hastings outlines his England ambition
“Yes is the answer,” he told Serious About Rugby League when asked if England selection was something on his mind. “I can elaborate for hours on why but I certainly want to put my name in the frame to go over to Australia and win a World Cup for England.
“I do dream about stuff like that, when I watched the boys play in the Ashes, it really gave me itchy feet to go out there and perform, whether that’s one, six, seven, nine, 14 or just in the squad at some point. I definitely want to do that and represent my country.
“My daughter is English, my mum was English. I’m really proud of my English heritage and it’s something that I really care about and I talk about it a lot. If I got the opportunity, I’d jump at it, I’m sure.”
He added: “I had a few chats with Shaun [Wane] as I was leaving the country and in the first two years that he took over as coach, I broke my leg, so I had no chance anyway. Then the boys that got picked cemented their spots, they played well against Tonga and Samoa so fair play to them.
“A new regime is coming in now and I’m going to be in the eye a bit more in Super League, so hopefully whoever the coach is, I do enough to warrant getting picked and by doing that, I’m doing my job for St Helens first and foremost. If I do a good job for them, I’ll put my name in the frame and if I’m good enough, I’ll make it. That’s the goal.”
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