Jackson Hastings reportedly the “fall guy” in John Bateman’s supposed Wigan Warriors exit

The futures of two Wigan Warriors players are up in the air at the moment.

2019 Man of Steel Jackson Hastings is being tipped to join Newcastle Knights in a swap deal which will see David Klemmer join the Wests Tigers and that could be the destination for Wigan backrow John Bateman with the Tigers happy to pay the $250,000 fee to get Bateman to the club.

According to David Riccio of Daily Telegraph speaking on the SEN Radio, the two players are linked.

According to him, Hastings has been let go of partly due to John Bateman’s arrival.

“Jackson Hastings is the fall guy with Bateman’s arrival,” Riccio added.

“With John Bateman, I expect that it will gain traction now that England are out of the World Cup.

“The Tigers will push ahead with negotiations and pay that transfer fee to get Bateman to the Tigers.

“(Bateman and Hastings) are not the best of mates and Hastings knows that Tim Sheens wants to play him as a lock than in the halves.

“The Knights want a half and Hastings is that.

“This will speed up.”

Riccio also said that Hastings move is very close.

“It’s getting closer than ever before,” Riccio said.

“Ultimately, David Klemmer has been the one that has been more manoeuvrable out of the Knights.

“They are pretty strong in the front row stocks at Newcastle with the Saifiti brothers.

“Klemmer is the one that the Tigers have had their eye on and he’s keen to head back to Sydney.”