Jackson Hastings discussion

Other than Salford I don’t think a fan base has embraced him like we have.

Article doesn’t shy away from why he can ruffle some feathers - he’s a big personality and isn’t backwards in coming forwards in telling the blokes around him what he wants them to do. But I think he backs it up playing ability-wise and especially in terms of his footy brain, and we have a group of players who genuinely do want to win I think. They look at him and see a guy who can help them play their best footy, and that leads to wins. I’d imagine that makes him easier to like.

He never should have went to the Roosters or Manly. He needs to be a side’s key playmaker to be effective, and he was always going to be the #2 at those clubs. It’s a lot easier to fit in as a 27 year old unquestioned dominant organising half than as a teenage upstart acting like he knows better than premiership winners. I reckon if he has his time over again he takes our offer back in the day. But it all seems to be working out in the long run.
 
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I don’t think I’d deny his history of moving on early from other clubs was a worry, but yeah if the options were a guy we’d want to keep but might lose (Hastings) and a guy we’d want to get rid of but wouldn’t be able to (Brooks)… kind of a no-brainer as to what’s worse 😂
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Eh, proper first grade halfbacks barely ever come off contract or get an early release. He would be the next best one after Reynolds since Cronk. He’s a good player.
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And yet your post immediately above this just echoes what I said, are you disagreeing with yourself 🤣 🤣

It's irrelevant who the alternative to Brooks was. Clune, a witches hat in a knights jersey, Hastings. All far better options.
 
Yeah I mean you’re not wrong, I just also would have taken Hastings over any other halfback who’s moved clubs since Cronk as well, except probably Isaiya Katoa. That includes Reynolds, who’s better, but 5 years older, and unlike Brisbane I don’t think we had a roster which was an elite halfback away from seriously contending for a title (definitely need a better pack leader and a five-eighth who’s a bit more dangerous).
 
It would have been interesting to see how Brooks went here, in a parallel universe situation, but he has never seemed to me to be an organising half, which is really what we needed. Hastings fits the bill for us perfectly. But I can see Brooks going to a better side and looking a lot better … with DCE he should go well.

One thing I’m sure about, the Tigers wanting to make Hastings a lock is a shocking plan.
 
jamesgould said:
It would have been interesting to see how Brooks went here, in a parallel universe situation, but he has never seemed to me to be an organising half, which is really what we needed. Hastings fits the bill for us perfectly. But I can see Brooks going to a better side and looking a lot better … with DCE he should go well.

One thing I’m sure about, the Tigers wanting to make Hastings a lock is a shocking plan.
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I watched Brooks against the Raiders last week where he was looking dangerous with ball in hand in the early sections of the game where things were pretty even. Cooper Cronk kept giving him raps for nice touches, which he was having, but there was zero structure to the tigers attack. I'm so happy we Hastings and the structures he provides to our attack. I think Brooks will be much better playing second fiddle to dce next year.
 
'Elliott, who has known Hastings since he was 11 when playing with and against each other on the NSW South Coast, says Hastings “is the most full-on and intense halfback I’ve played with”.

“He’s someone who doesn’t shirk responsibility; he storms through the door and wants to grab the game plan by the throat – he’s a footy nerd who watches tape 24/7,” Elliott says.'


Man that's good to read as a fan.
 
jamesgould said:
It would have been interesting to see how Brooks went here, in a parallel universe situation, but he has never seemed to me to be an organising half, which is really what we needed. Hastings fits the bill for us perfectly. But I can see Brooks going to a better side and looking a lot better … with DCE he should go well.

One thing I’m sure about, the Tigers wanting to make Hastings a lock is a shocking plan.
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I have no doubt Brooks can still add value in the NRL as a five-eighth next to a good halfback. I don't think that was our plan though, as we see with Hastings, we wanted a halfback to take control of the team. We really dodged a bullet there.
 
alexwilliams said:
'Elliott, who has known Hastings since he was 11 when playing with and against each other on the NSW South Coast, says Hastings “is the most full-on and intense halfback I’ve played with”.

“He’s someone who doesn’t shirk responsibility; he storms through the door and wants to grab the game plan by the throat – he’s a footy nerd who watches tape 24/7,” Elliott says.'


Man that's good to read as a fan.
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That's what you want from a halfback. In lots of places, but particularly in rugby league, it's important to have a natural leader who's obsessed with their work, who can drag others up with them. Can rub people the wrong way coming from a young buck, DCE went through the same thing, but as they grow older, more mature, experienced, more respected, it's a good thing.
 
Lefty said:
Thankfully Hastings just has a low grade syndesmosis injury. It is possible that he may even play on the weekend.

www.newcastleknights.com.au

Recovery Report: Hastings update

Scans today have confirmed nib Newcastle Knights halfback Jackson Hastings has a low-grade syndesmosis injury in the same leg than ended his 2022 season.
www.newcastleknights.com.au www.newcastleknights.com.au
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Good news probably won't play this weekend but would be nice to see him back Round 27 possibly.
 
I am just worried if he comes back during the finals week then he might be rusty on the combinations.
Prefer for him to miss two weeks and then come back for the dragons to have an easy practise
 
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