NRL round five: Newcastle Knights defeat St George Illawarra Dragons 30-10

After a week of negative headlines, Jackson Hastings put his fingers to his ears and let his footy do the talking, saying his demotion to reserve grade was the kick-along he needed to return to his best.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 05: Zac Lomax of the Dragonsis tackled during the round five NRL match between Newcastle Knights and St George Illawarra Dragons at McDonald Jones Stadium on April 05, 2024, in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)

A revitalised and refreshed Jackson Hastings says his demotion to reserve grade may have been the kick-along he needed after bouncing back to star for the Knights in his NRL return.

Much was made of Hastings’ demotion. Errant suggestions that he had blown up and refused to train were quickly debunked by coach Adam O’Brien.

Hastings himself has kept silent despite the all too familiar negatives headlines preferring to push his case on the field.

“It was upsetting when it’s not true,” Hastings said.

“I’ve dealt with a lot of that throughout my career. Stuff that’s been said when that’s not true. I’m 28-years-old. I did well to bite my tongue.

“Sometimes when you know the truth you sit back and have a laugh. But when it impacts your family and partner and people close to you that’s when it gets frustrating.

“The club were awesome. Adam was awesome the whole time. We were in constant dialogue. He came out and made sure the public knew the truth. I love playing for him.

Jackson Hastings celebrates a try with his Knights teammates on his return to the team. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

“His reasons were valid. It wasn’t like he just pulled it out of his backside and said you weren’t playing. I agreed with the reasons. We were on good terms the whole time.

“Don’t get me wrong I was frustrated and upset that I wasn’t playing NRL like any other player would be. I have a high level of care about playing in the NRL and playing for this club. I love the club to bits.”

While the middle forwards were outstanding for the Knights, the Hastings and Jack Cogger combination were equally as significant to help Newcastle overcome St George Illawarra on Friday night.

Their kicking game was pin-point while Hastings scored a try and laid on another. Tyson Gamble was relegated to NSW Cup with the shoot-out expected to continue.

“The coach has backed all three of us,” Hastings said. “I know there has been some chopping and changing but he has been so good for all of us.

“We’ve all been in and out for different reasons. For me going back to NSW Cup was kind of refreshing. I broke my leg twice in the space of 12 months. I wasn’t at my peak fitness. I was playing decent footy but I wasn’t seeing opportunities that I needed to see.

Hastings said his time in the NSW Cup was refreshing. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

“I went back to Cup and had a lot of fun. Played with some boys I might not ever get the chance to play with again. I looked at the game through a different lens.

“Sometimes you need a kick up the bum even if you don’t need it. It got blown out of proportion.

“It was exciting to go back and not have the pressure. Playing the NRL week to week is so hard. Don’t get me wrong I would rather play NRL every single week. But going back and playing with lads who some work 9am-5pm and then turn up to captain’s run and play the next day.

“It was refreshing in that sense knowing I’ve had my injuries but some blokes have it harder than me. It changed my whole mindset about what it means to be a professional footy player.

“If I can avoid going back there it will be very good.”

LOMAX SHOWS NO ILL-EFFECTS OF WEEK PLAGUED BY HEADLINES

If Parramatta were the only side interested then Zac Lomax has had to have caught the eye of the rest of the NRL with just two impressive plays on Friday night.

The feast at Brad Arthur’s Hills District house 48 hours earlier may have been enough to sway Lomax, but he has certainly put the rest of the league on notice.

And if he keeps playing this way he further enforces the point that maybe – just maybe – his best position in on the wing despite being switched to fullback after halftime. Lomax lined up again on the flank for the Dragons on the same week where the club granted his wish to part ways from the final two years of his contract – worth more than $800,000 a season.

He is essentially a rugby league nomad. But he showed no ill-effects of a week plagued by headlines.

He scored St George Illawarra’s first try with a play which would have been applauded in dry weather, let alone the wet and muddy conditions the players encountered. Lomax picked up a Ben Hunt grubber at full speed and despite the attention of opposite Enari Tuala he crossed for a try after 13 minutes.

Zac Lomax was impressive again for the Dragons. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

Kalyn Ponga was on the scoresheet for the Knights. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

Just eight minutes later Lomax – dancing across the sideline – threw a no-look around the corner pass for to repay Hunt and lay on St George Illawarra’s second try.

Coming into the game with no guarantee surrounding his future. Who knows would what have happened if he suffered a serious injury.

While the Eels remain in the box seat to land Lomax on a three to four year deal worth about $700,000, nothing has yet formally happened.

He made a poor defensive error defensively by jamming in on Bradman Best only for Tuala to be left unmarked to score for the Knights in the opening half.

Despite the blemish, Lomax continues to be among the game’s best wingers and is inching towards NSW selection if he continues his form.

He was moved to fullback for the second half of the match but failed to make a similar impression after coach Shane Flanagan opted to move Tyrell Sloan after he struggled with his hands in the opening 40 minutes.

“He is a young kid and he needs to learn it’s a tough game,” Flanagan said of Sloan. “You have to put your head where there is going to be collision. I had to make a change.

“I’m not afraid to make change. I am going to make change.”

Originally published as NRL round five: Newcastle Knights defeat St George Illawarra Dragons 30-10