What's wrong with Jackson Hastings? NRL legends delve into controversial Knights playmaker

What is the issue with Jackson Hastings?

On face value, the 27-year-old is a far more mature version of the player that burst onto the scene with the Roosters and Manly many years ago.

After being axed by both clubs, including a bitter fallout with Sea Eagles star Daly Cherry-Evans, the polarising Wollongong junior moved over to England in a bid to save his career. 

Hastings underwent a complete transformation during his time in the Super League, taking out the Man Of Steel award before returning to the NRL as a seemingly changed man and improved player in 2022.

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But despite being a rare shining light for the Tigers last year, the club opted to release him from his contract and put their faith into perennial under-performer Luke Brooks in the No.7 jumper.

Hastings would move up to Newcastle, ink a long-term deal and forced into yet another fresh start, but has already found himself in the crosshairs of his former side following a heated Round 2 incident with David Klemmer and Tommy Talau. 

It has left many within the rugby league world puzzled, with the mystery surrounding his early exit from Concord never solved. 

Former Manly player Justin Horo was highly critical of Hastings in a recent episode of the LEVELS podcast, claiming that the halfback puts on a different persona for the cameras. 

Knights legend Andrew Johns however believes that a perceived arrogant attitude cost Hastings early in his career, but there is no signs of that since his return to Australia. 

“I first started working with Jackson in 2017 at the Roosters – I found him respectful," he said on Freddy And The Eighth.

"I think coming in as a halfback into a team like that with big personalities, I think he tried to put up a façade and it came across as arrogant.

"At Newcastle I find him really good – respectful, loves his footy. He is the first one to admit, he went to England and being away from everyone and fending for himself, he grew up a lot.

"From my experience, I couldn’t knock him at all."

Hastings has played over 150 first grade games across his time in the NRL and Super League, but has never reached the heights he was perhaps destined to as a teenager.

Roosters legend Brad Fittler revealed that Hastings felt the weight of carrying his last name into the famous system, as well as questioning the response from the Tigers on Sunday afternoon.  

“I found this weird, because what he did had no malice in it," he said.

"If he was just going up to say ‘I apologise’ then I think the Tigers boys [are wrong]. The action itself where he hit him in the nose, it was saving a try and if anything, nobody barely noticed him hitting him in the head.

“I played Nines with him when I was 42 and he was just coming through, he was a kid. I remember we all sat down and had a chat and I spoke about what it meant to me, it was pretty important doing what I was doing.

"He spoke about this expectation with his dad and the things that he carried through his life, it was pretty vulnerable of him.

"He is like that – he puts himself out there and each to their own."

Jackson Hastings career

Did Jackson Hastings get suspended?

Despite being placed on report and charged by the NRL judiciary for a high tackle on Talau, Hastings has been cleared to play in Round 3 after copping an $1800 fine.

The halfback will line up for Newcastle in a crucial clash with the Dolphins on Friday night. 

Knights teammate Jacob Saifiti wasn't so lucky however, with the judiciary rubbing him out for five matches following a sickening tackle on Jake Simpkin. 

How long is Kalyn Ponga out?

Along with the suspension of Saifiti, the Knights will also be without star fullback Kalyn Ponga for an indefinite period.

The 24-year-old suffered his fourth concussion in the past year during the win over the Tigers and could be facing a lengthy hiatus from the NRL.

Ponga will miss the Round 3 clash with the Dolphins, but is unlikely to feature the following week even if cleared by the concussion protocols, given his history of head injuries.