Jackson Hastings is ruthless, Luke Brooks is the star - the Wests Tigers playmaker partnership

When Wests Tigers signed Jackson Hastings, Luke Brooks had every right to be concerned his spot was under threat. Instead, it’s revived the maligned star and ignited the Tigers’ season.

Jackson Hastings has declared the Wests Tigers are still Luke Brooks’ team.

Sitting in the same Concord coffee shop where an “emotional’’ coach Michael Maguire first laid out his plans with the halves partnership, Hastings opened up about the positional switch that has reignited the Tigers’ season.

And he wants to make it clear: Brooks is still the “true leader” of the Tigers.

“I don’t think I have ever seen anyone cop it as much as him,” Hastings told The Daily Telegraph.

“And I think Brooksy can write a new narrative both for himself and this club and I would love to help him be the one to break the drought and get us back into the finals.“

Brooks knows Hastings is the “ruthless” personality he needs to balance his quieter personality.

“He is just someone that wants to win and doesn’t really care what anyone on the outside thinks,” Brooks said.

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(L-R) Wests Tigers halves Luke Brooks and Jackson Hastings open up on their developing partnership. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

JAMES PHELPS: So let’s start with an easy one … Who kicked the better field goal?

LUKE BROOKS: It would have to be Jacko’s.

JACKSON HASTINGS: Yeah mine was further out

BROOKS: Yeah. 60m right? That’s what you have been saying.

HASTINGS: Na. It was about 35m. But seriously I think his (field goal) had more weight given we needed to back up what we did against Parra. There was no point playing one really good game and then following it up with a loss. We are trying to build a culture here where we expect to win every week and we expect to win close games like that one. I also missed two shots before Brooksy had a crack so I will give him this one. He wanted to own the moment and he did just that.

BROOKS: But yours looked better right?

HASTINGS: Yeah pretty spectacular but yours was more important.

Jackson Hastings cheers his kick over the posts. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

PHELPS: A lot of people may have been surprised by the combination you have formed – but I know that Michael Maguire is not. Can you tell me a little bit about the talks you had with him earlier this year?

BROOKS: I guess coming into the season, he wanted us to throw the ball around a bit and play some football. Jacko and I played in the halves in round one. I thought we did a bit of that. Our attack was okay against a quality side in Melbourne, but some injuries forced a reshuffle and I think our attack went away from us a bit. But since the Parra game, when Jacko came back into the halves, I think we have gotten it back. I still think we have plenty to improve on but that is exciting. I know they say defence wins games but I am here to attack. We both just love having the ball in our hands.

PHELPS: And how did you feel when they announced that Jackson was coming to the club? A few people suggested that he might end up replacing you.

BROOKS: I was told Jacko was coming to play either five-eighth or lock. But I knew the plan was always for him to be in the halves long term. At the start that was me being a halfback and him being a five-eighth, but we have now found what works the best for both of us which is Jacko wearing the No. 7 and me in the No.6.

(L-R) Jackson Hastings and Luke Brooks are finding out how to best compliment each other - on and off the field. Picture: NRL Photos

PHELPS: How about you Jacko … Were you looking forward to playing alongside Luke or were you coming to take his spot?

HASTINGS: I was never coming here to take his spot. That was never my goal or ambition. I wanted to play with him. I personally felt for him because I have been in a similar position in terms of the things he has gone through. We both know what it feels like to be bashed but I came here thinking that my skin was now thick enough to not only deal with it but to also help Brooksy too. I think over the last two weeks the combination has developed into what we have always thought it could be. We still can improve and reach another level. We will get better and better. I feel like my job is to help Brooksy be the star we all know he is. It is my job to get him the ball when he wants it and to let him do his thing.

PHELPS: Does Jackson always talk this much?

BROOKS: Absolutely. You should see how long our team meetings go for now he is at the Tigers. But that’s why this is working. He is a massive talker and it comes naturally to him. I am the opposite. And I think that is why we are working together so well. Having the big talker to lead the team around well has really freed me to play some more football.

PHELPS: How did you two hit it off? Can you remember the first time you met as Wests Tigers’ teammates?

HASTINGS: Yeah. I was getting some gear out of the back of the van and Brooksy went out of his way to come over and shake my hand. We shook hands and I thought it was pretty big of him to go out of his way to come and meet me. It is essentially his team and he is the true leader of this club so for him to do that, it put me in a good place straight away. Brooksy has always had my respect, but I felt that I had to earn his.

Luke Brooks celebrates as his matchwinning field goal goes over.

PHELPS: What did you make of Jacko? Did he fit in from the get-go?

BROOKS: He is obviously very loud and as you said, he can talk a lot, but he is the personality we needed. He is just someone that wants to win and doesn’t really care what anyone on the outside thinks. I respect his mind and the way he can be ruthless which is exactly what our team needed.

PHELPS: That must be reassuring to hear that the team needed a personality like you Jackson because your personality is what may have ended your stints at other clubs. Right?

HASTINGS: Yeah it feels good because there haven’t ever been too many nice things said about me. To hear that from a teammate is nice. I came here knowing that I had to work on the way I spoke to people (teammates) at different times. I have a big will to win and sometimes I can come across as aggressive and get very close to the line with the way I say things. I have had to learn how to speak to different people and how to control my emotions. I also know I have to work hard to create relationships away from the game to help people understand me a little bit better. I need them to know it is never personal. I will only ever say something if it is for the betterment of the team.

PHELPS: What sort of influence has Madge had on the way you have played over the last couple of rounds?

HASTINGS: He has been great. He has installed us with the confidence to own the team and the game. He actually got me and Brooksy in this exact spot (having a coffee at Organica cafe, Concord) before round one and he got pretty emotional telling us what his plans for us were. He told us how much belief he had in us. Me and Brooksy had a bit of a giggle after that because Madge was so passionate. But seriously, we both walked away with a lot of confidence. We played together in the halves in round one until we had some injuries and that told me enough to know there was definitely something to build on. We got that opportunity to play together again a couple of weeks ago and we have been able to continue building our combination.

Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire backed his halves pairing. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

PHELPS: Have your roles changed since the start of the year given that you (Hastings) are now wearing the No. 7 and Luke is in the No. 6?

HASTINGS: Everyone makes a big deal about it – but it hasn’t really changed the way we play. It has just changed to the style which suits us best. Which for me is talking a lot and for him is playing free. I reckon he has been the inform five-eighth in the NRL over the last couple of weeks. It is now up to us to keep on working and to be consistent.

BROOKS: Madge’s confidence in us has never changed. Not even over the first five rounds when we were losing. He always believed in us and that is full credit to him. I know he went through the wringer too, but he kept on aiming up.

PHELPS: You have had a lot of halves partners at the Tigers. Could Jacko become the best?

BROOKS: Definitely. We have found a way that suits our styles and I think we can build on this combination. And yes, as you said, I have had plenty of halves partners. But yes, I think this could be the one.

HASTINGS: I really think credit will go to Brooksy if it does. Brooksy gets a bit embarrassed when people defend him like I did last week after the game, but it is because I respect him. Brooksy is one of the most resilient and mentally tough people. The way he has consistently turned up and played good football through adversity is inspiring. We know that people are going to come after us (halves) when we don’t win. That’s the narrative. But I don’t think I have ever seen anyone get it as much as him and still turn up and lead a team like he does. To be a small part of being able to make him smile and play good football is pretty cool. I think Brooksy can write a new narrative both for himself and this club and I would love to see him be the one to break the drought and get us back into the finals. I would also like to play a part in helping him do that.

PHELPS: You have both had your fair share of knockers and you both seem to deal with it very differently. You (Jackson) seem to take it head on whereas you (Luke) seem to cop it in on the chin. Have you learnt anything from each other?

HASTINGS: I feel like I want to protect him (Brooksy). Like he is my big brother. All my situations came from my own doings and I have deserved a lot of it whereas Brooksy has not really put himself in those positions. He has gone through all these halves partners, coaching changes, injuries … But everyone thinks it is his fault because he wears the No.7. He has copped it way more than me and for no reason. I don’t know if I can teach him anything but I can stand on the front line and wear a bit for him.

BROOKS: I try to stay away from it as much as I can. I do know it (criticism) is out there because people come and tell me. I try not to let it affect me, but It still does. I have been blamed for a lot of things and a lot of it has been unfair. But I also get some accolades that the team deserves when things are going well so I am willing to cop the bad with the good. It is all part of the game and we have seen it this year already. I am just going to work hard and make sure I do my best for the team. And I know Jacko is going to do the same.

Originally published as Jackson Hastings is ruthless, Luke Brooks is the star - the Wests Tigers playmaker partnership