Journalist makes bold statement about Jackson Hastings

When Jackson Hastings arrived at Salford midway through the 2018 Super League season, little was known in the UK about the new Australian hitting these shores.

Wind the clock forward to 2021 and Hastings’ name was on the tip of most people’s tongues having earned a move back to the NRL with the Wests Tigers.

The transformation in three-and-a-half years was incredible and the halfback earned the right to return home and take a much improved deal with his new club.

In fact, Hastings’ development has been so good that he appears to be the front-runner for the number 6 shirt at his new club Wests.

The former Wigan Warriors and Salford Red Devils star moved to Wests following the culmination of the 2021 Super League season and has quickly impressed in his new surroundings.

As such, Hastings looks destined to take the halfback’s shirt, despite Tyrone Peachey joining the club as well as Adam Doueihi’s move into the halves.

Hastings took the number 31 at Salford and Wigan, but with the NRL not launching squad numbers before the season, it looks as though he will take the number 6 instead.

Doueihi will be out until around round 10 with an ACL injury which will allow Hastings to establish himself firmly as Luke Brooks’ halfback partner.

And, revered sports journalist The Mole – after wishing Hastings a happy birthday – has boldly predicted that the halfback will propel the Tigers into the play-offs for the first time in over a decade.

A happy birthday to the man who will lead @WestsTigers to finals footy – @JackoHastings pic.twitter.com/CKc9WzZOWZ

— The Mole (@9_Moley) January 3, 2022