Three Super League clubs who could try and sign Jackson Hastings

Last week former Man of Steel Jackson Hastings was dropped which has sparked suggestions that the ex-Wigan Warrior could be on the move.

Water has since been poured on those suggestions with head coach Adam O’Brien outlining that Hastings has received the news well, adding that it was untrue that Hastings had refused to train.

“This isn’t the end of Jackson,” O’Brien stated, adding: “It remains to be seen if it’s the right call. We’ve been clear on what he needs to work on, and he is more than capable of doing it.

“It’ll give him a chance to work on his game without the stress. But he is still a big part of our squad.”

Former NRL legend Greg Alexander has labelled the dropping of Hastings and other half-backs across the league as “unheard of”, adding that Hastings has not let himself down and in fact, played “maybe a better than okay against the Cowboys”.

Despite that Hastings featured alongside former Huddersfield Giants starlet Will Pryce in the halves for Newcastle’s New South Wales Cup side instead, registering an impressive five try assists showing his class.

If Jackson Hastings were to seek first-team rugby league elsewhere then it could be that Super League is his only option, so which sides could potentially make a play for the former Man of Steel winner?

Which Super League sides could make a play for Jackson Hastings?

Wigan Warriors

A return to his former team could be the move to make for Jackson Hastings, particularly given that Wigan’s current star half-back Bevan French is one of the few players that the club haven’t tied down.

Despite making deals to secure the futures of the likes of Jai Field, Harry Smith and Abbas Miski, as well as head coach Matt Peet, the Cherry and Whites haven’t nailed down Bevan French.

French is himself a two-time Man of Steel winner, picking up his second award last season when he made the transition into the halves which proved a brilliant move.

Since then he’s now marshalled Wigan to a World Club CHallenge victory with his exceptional cut-out pass to Abbas Miski leading to the opener against Penrith Panthers, whilst he also had a sublime try chalked off too.

Hastings may have left Wigan once before but his familiarity with the club and their values could make him a savvy pick-up should he remain out of the fray for Newcastle, particularly if NRL interest continues to mount for the off-contract French who is entering his prime at age 28.

Salford Red Devils

No surprise to see another of Hastings’ former clubs on this list and this time it’s the side that he truly turned around in Salford Red Devils.

It was the success of Hastings at Salford that seemed to trigger the current trend of Super League sides buying young NRL halves who were out of favour down under. Since then the likes of Jai Field, Brodie Croft and Jake Clifford have all come to Super League and had great individual success.

Obviously, Hastings wasn’t the first young half to arrive but he certainly was one of the more successful ones and that success came at Salford and he’s the type of player that could thrive in Paul Rowley’s system.

The imperious Marc Sneyd is one half of Salford’s playmaking duo with the other position currently filled by Cade Cust, another half who came over from the NRL but sadly hasn’t had the same level of success yet.

Cust only signed on a one-year deal though which could mean that there is both a half-back vacancy and a quota spot for the Red Devils to fill. Hastings would fit that role perfectly.

Castleford Tigers

The wildcard team on the list. Could Castleford Tigers really make a play for Jackson Hastings?

It’s been a long time since the Tigers tasted success and truly they haven’t had an elite half since Luke Gale but with new funding coming into the club thanks to the investment of Martin Jepson then Hastings could be a target.

Castleford are a side clearly in transition, it’s been stated by Director of Rugby Danny Wilson, but what better way to kickstart that transition and the IMG era with the signing of a Man of Steel winner?

Hastings would quickly become a fan favourite, as he did at Salford, and his signing would be in a similar vein to the loan move that the Tigers made late in 2023 for fellow maverick Blake Austin.