NRL: Kai Pearce-Paul on NRL transition and Jackson Hastings recalled

English Rugby League is certainly on the rise and that’s evident by the number of young English talents plying their trade in the NRL with Kai Pearce-Paul among the most recent to make the jump.

The former Wigan Warriors’ man was confirmed as moving to Newcastle Knights way back in late 2022 with the Knights making a double swoop for Pearce-Paul and young Will Pryce from Huddersfield as they raided Super League.

Pryce has been playing in the New South Wales Cup team but earned rave reviews during pre-season, however, Kai Pearce-Paul has forged his way into the starting 13 and has featured in each of the Knights’ four games this season, starting and playing 80 minutes in the last three.

Pearce-Paul is again named in the Round Five squad and will be one of several Englishman playing this week in the NRL with fellow former Wigan man Morgan Smithies also starting for Canberra after an impressive start.

Honorary Englishman and former Great Britain international Jackson Hastings has been recalled to the Knights squad after previously being dropped to the NSW Cup, whilst other Englishman set to start this weekend include Tom Burgess, Herbie Farnworth, John Bateman, Dom Young and Victor Radley.

“It’s definitely faster” – What Kai Pearce-Paul had to say about the NRL

It was actually the 23-year-old’s turn to speak to the media before the game this week and he’s offered an insight into how the NRL differed from Super League.

He explained: “I’d say it’s a bit faster. I sort of knew to expect that anyway but it’s definitely a faster game, and a lot more physical as well. You’ve got a different sort of people running at you each week, bigger bodies, more agile as well.”

The biggest news this week for the Knights is the recall of Jackson Hastings though after it looked like he could be on the way out after being dropped into reserve grade, but after impressing with five assists on his NSW Cup debut this season, he’s forced his way back in at the expense of Tyson Gamble.

Head coach Adam O’Brien said: “I asked Jackson to go back and work on a couple of things in his game for the two games, but the two weeks of training (is where) he really applied himself to those things,” Knights coach Adam O’Brien said.

“I can only go on his attitude to training and then what his attitude was with the NSW Cup side, and he did an exceptional job. Everyone is happy to have him back.

“I want to have a look at him and Jack playing in a game together.”

The Knights face St George Illawarra Dragons with the game available on WatchNRL for English fans who wish to see Kai Pearce-Paul and Jackson Hastings in action.