Jackson Hastings in tell-all interview on former club, Super League experience and why he left

Jackson Hastings has recently returned to the NRL with the Wests Tigers after a stellar spell in the UK.

A Super League move towards the back end of the 2018 season, after being cut away from the Manly Sea Eagles, kickstarted a rejuvenation of the halfback’s career.

Winning the Man of Steel with the Salford Red Devils in 2019 certainly helped his stock rise as he helped the once-lowly club reach the Grand Final – likewise with the high-flying Wigan Warriors a year later.

But, Hastings believes that both him and Kyle Flanagan would say something different to others when asked if they were released too early at their first clubs.

“It depends who you are I guess,” Hastings told Foxsports.com.au.

“If you ask certain playmakers they will tell you something different to what something like myself or Kyle Flanagan will tell you.

“It just depends where you are and what system you are in and what you are expected to do and how much time you are given.

“Some people are given a lot of opportunities and some people are given a small window to be successful.”

Now, though, he has been given another shot at NRL redemption by former Wigan boss Michael Maguire at the Tigers, and Hastings is determined to take it, revealing just why he performed so well in Super League.

“I was just able to play,” Hastings said.

“The shackles came off and I played like how I did when I first made first grade.

“I had glimpses of that when I was here and probably not enough. So to be able to go over there and play first grade and not have the media stress and not have everything that comes with being an NRL player and just be able to go over there and express myself was one of the things that helped.”

Hastings also revealed that the pull of being coached by Maguire was too good to turn down.

“I met Madge a few times and he is a top coach,” Hastings continued.

“I like being coached by someone who pushes you to your limits.

“That’s on the field and then away from the field he is a real family man and cares about you away from the game. He cares about what you are doing away from rugby league, not just what you are doing on the field Monday to Sunday.

“The attraction was through Madge and where the club has been and where it wants to go.

“Obviously it is a year ahead but the signings the club has made for 2023 shows they are heading in the right direction.

“And the people they have brought in this year like Tyrone Peachey and Oliver Gildart. The club is building in a direction where I want to go and hopefully I can be a small part of that.”