Ex-Sea Eagle set to be shock selection in Great Britain squad
The former Sea Eagle who left the club in dramatic circumstances is now set for the ultimate redemption, ex-Manly Marlin bobs playing in Rugby World Cup and local sports star gets hitched.
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AFTER his controversial departure from the Sea Eagles and then being handed a lifeline by Super League club Salford, Jackson Hastings is on the verge of making a triumphant return Down Under.
The rejuvenated Hastings is expected to be named in coach Wayne Bennett’s final squad for Great Britain’s tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea to be announced next Sunday.
He is also eligible for the English squad to compete in the Rugby League World Cup Nines.
Hastings qualifies for Great Britain through his Plymouth-born grandmother and tracked down the appropriate documents in Australia to prove his eligibility.
Since moving to England the 23-year-old has been a standout for the big surprise packets Salford who stormed their way into the Super League finals after many judges had tipped them to run last.
Early this morning the battling Red Devils played glamour club Wigan, who have signed Hastings for next season, in a Super League qualifying final.
Hastings made the Super League team of the season and this week was named 2019 Super League player of the year by the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters’ Association after receiving an overwhelming majority of the votes.
SPOTTED IN JAPAN
NORTHERN beaches rugby fans spotted a familiar face running around in the World Cup.
Former Manly Marlins centre Mali Hingano was an impressive performer for the spirited Tongan side that went down to Argentina 28-12 last weekend.
The graduate of the great footy nursery St Augustine’s College headed to France in 2015 looking for the opportunities he was not getting in Australia.
The 27-year-old is currently playing for glamour club Stade Francais.
Hingano is one of the three products of the Manly Marlins juniors playing in the tournament in Japan along with Wallabies Michael Hooper and Reece Hodge.
The US squad has Manly hooker James Hilterbrand and ex-Marlin lock Greg Peterson, who captured hearts worldwide by taking his yoing baby onto the field after the game with France.
RAT SAYS ‘I DO’
THE Warringah Rats may have lost the Shute Shield grand final to Sydney University, but players have a good reason to celebrate on Friday night.
The club’s warhorse forward “Slammin” Sam Ward married his partner and biggest supporter Ellen Sheil at Athol Hall in Mosman.
Former teammate and peninsula personality Ed Doyle was best man and recently retired first grade skipper Hamish Angus was one of the groomsmen.
“There is a big Rats’ table and I have put them near the door,” said Ward, showing why he is one of game’s smartest players.
And good news for incoming Warringah coach Michael Ruthven is that the powerhouse No. 8, who is heart and soul of the Rats pack, says he will run around again next season.
TOP MARKS FOR MANLY
MANLY Cricket Club is in good hands with the highly-respected Phil Marks slotting seamlessly into his role as head coach.
“I’m loving it, it’s just a great club to be part of,” he said.
“There are 60-65 odd sides when you include all the pathway guys and they are just brilliant kids and a pleasure to work with.”
And the club has shown faith in the talent in their ranks by not recruiting any new players for this season.
“We are going to be tested during the Big Bash because we will lose five or six players to Thunder or Sixes but we are going to back our depth like we always have,” Marks said.