Jackson Hastings future update set to put Super League sides on alert

There has been a major update on the future of former Super League Man of Steel Jackson Hastings from his NRL head coach.

Hastings claimed the Man of Steel award in the 2019 season during his second campaign with Salford Red Devils, having made the switch midway through the 2018 season.

He’d go on to spend two years with Wigan Warriors before heading back Down Under but he is currently out of favour with Newcastle Knights and their head coach Adam O’Brien has provided an update in the 29-year-old’s future.

Jackson Hastings has been dubbed as the “$800,000 millstone around the Knights’ neck” by The Daily Telegraph and O’Brien was quoted by the outlet as confirming the former Salford and Wigan man will not be at the club in 2026.

O’Brien also explained why the former Super League star has not been called upon this season despite the Knights boasting one of the worst attacks in the competition.

Jackson Hastings’ Newcastle future confirmed

Jackson Hastings is regularly linked with a move to Super League but the admission from O’Brien that he will not be with the Knights for 2026 does add fuel to the fire of any potential links.

Since returning to the NRL, he has struggled and has often been used as a scapegoat with his huge salary one of the reasons for that.

Speaking prior to Magic Round where the Knights actually won with young playmaker Fletcher Sharpe scoring a hat-trick on his 21st birthday, Newcastle boss Adam O’Brien explained his reasons for snubbing Hastings.

“For what we’re trying to achieve at the moment, I don’t believe Jackson could solve our issues,” O’Brien said of Hastings.

“The problems that we have in the team at the moment, he’s not going to be able to come in and fix it and I’m also trying to be fair to Jackson so that he’s not harboured with that pressure.

“Anyone who is contracted to our club will always be considered, but again our issues aren’t Jackson’s areas, it’s depth in our forward pack and improving our fundamentals.”

He would then confirm: “The club has also been up front and honest that going forward he won’t be offered a new deal, so right now I’m focused on getting our win this weekend while in the process, upskilling the talent that are part of our future.”

It now makes him one of the most talked-about free agents for both the NRL and Super League, however, he would need to take a major pay-cut to return to Super League with his $800,000 salary converting to around £400,000.

Englishman Kai Pearce-Paul is another of the key Knights players without a deal for 2025 as well as Mat Croker, who has recently been linked with Super League.