Jackson Hastings is one of many recent NRL imports that have taken Super League by storm, and now he’s stated that the move to England ‘saved’ his career.
Hastings made the Super League switch midway through the 2018 campaign, cutting short his spell with Manly Warringah Sea Eagles before signing with Salford Red Devils just two weeks later.
For much of the 2018 season Hastings had been playing in the reserves after spats from inside the club had become public, however the Red Devils took the gamble on him and he repaid them in buckets.
It was during his second season, the 2019 campaign, where he would truly show what an excellent player he was with Hastings going on to win the Man of Steel award and take Salford all the way to the Grand Final.
Ultimately the club would fall short but it highlighted just how far the team had come, having finished 11th the season prior and with the Red Devils playing an entertaining brand of rugby orchestrated by Hastings.
As such he earned a move to Wigan Warriors before ultimately return9ng to the NRL, where he now looks set to partner former Huddersfield Giants man Jack Cogger in the halves for Newcastle Knights this upcoming season.
There’s no doubt that the move to England kickstarted Hastings career however he’s gone as far as to claim that the move ‘saved his career’, something he noted on social media.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Hastings wished Salford Red Devils’ CEO Ian Blease a happy birthday as he shared an image of the two.
Hastings posted: “Happy birthday old mate. “Still owe ya about 60 beers for saving my career, have a great day pal! Miss ya.”
The half-back has been one of a number of smart signings made by Blease during his time at Salford with Brodie Croft being another example that was incredibly similar to Hastings.
Croft arrived in England and took the league by storm, also earning the Man of Steel award and helping guide the club to the playoffs before departing for one of the traditional ‘big clubs’ in Leeds Rhinos this past off-season.
