Back-pedal! Sea Eagles boss declares Jackson Hastings up for selection

BARELY a fortnight after Manly coach Trent Barrett said exiled playmaker Jackson Hastings would not be considered for selection again, Sea Eagles boss Lyall Gorman has put the young half back on the table.

Jackson Hastings in action for Blacktown.

MANLY has pulled a stunning 180 and declared exiled playmaker Jackson Hastings will be brought in from the cold and be considered for selection.

Barely a fortnight ago coach Trent Barrett declared Hastings would not be considered for selection at the club again.

It was claimed the young halfback had fallen out with players and staff, and certain members of the playing group were refusing to share a field with him.

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He’s since been playing for Blacktown in the NSW Cup.

But now the Sea Eagles are set to issue a Save Our Souls to Hastings and bring him back into the side to fix their halves crisis.

MANLY OPTIONS: Exiled halfback or rookie gamble?

Manly CEO Lyall Gorman told Fairfax Media Hastings will be considered for selection.

“We’ve got an obligation to look at everyone available,” Gorman said.

“He’s a contract player, of course. What we have to do is move on from Jackson, we’ve got a whole club and future we’re building here.

“I don’t mean move on from him as a player on the field, I mean move on from talking about him.

“There are 23 other players we can talk about as well. You look at a raft of things, just as you do at every football club.

“The coach will sit down on Monday and look at who’s available, who’s fit and what is the best combination for that particular game.”

Manly’s NRL roster is in tatters. Injuries to five-eighth Lachlan Croker and forward Jack Gosiewski at the weekend mean the club may have as little as 19 fit players to choose their 21-man squad from for round 9.

Croker is gone for the season thanks to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. Manly desperately needs to find a playmaker.

Barrett himself was asked on Saturday whether Hastings would be considered next week.

“Lyall (Gorman) will be considered this week, if that can answer your question — Mickey Mouse might be considered,” he replied.

The situation has gone from bad to worse for Manly in the past few weeks.

On top of their salary cap scandal, reports have emerged of team disharmony.

Captain Daly Cherry-Evans was fined $10,000 for an altercation with Hastings at a team hotel earlier in the year.

They also haven’t been able to sign any new players or promoted anyone to the senior list due to the salary cap restrictions.

Gorman is hopeful the NRL with green-light some player promotions soon.

Originally published as Back-pedal! Sea Eagles boss declares Jackson Hastings up for selection