Injuries force Manly Sea Eagles to bring Jackson Hastings back in from the cold
A HORRIFIC run of injuries means Manly only has 21 fit players available for their clash with the Roosters, which will prompt a shock NRL recall for Jackson Hastings.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
EARLY MAIL: Mass changes as injury strikes
EXILED Sea Eagles utility Jackson Hastings will be recalled into Manly’s extended squad in a dramatic twist ahead of Sunday’s NRL clash with the Sydney Roosters.
The Daily Telegraph has been told Manly will on Tuesday name Hastings in their preliminary 21-man squad, with coach Trent Barrett to decide later in the week whether to include the 22-year-old in the Sea Eagles’ 17-man match-day squad.
It is understood Hastings is a strong chance of replacing five-eighth Lachlan Croker, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in last Friday’s loss to Newcastle.
A horrific run of injuries means Barrett only has 21 fit players available for the Roosters game, having already used 24 players over the opening eight rounds of the season.
The Daily Telegraph revealed three weeks ago Hastings had been banished to Manly’s feeder side, the Blacktown Workers, in the NSW Intrust Super Premiership, after Sea Eagles players told Barrett they did not want to play in the same team as the controversial half.
Manly’s coaching staff will need to determine whether Hastings and skipper Daly Cherry-Evans can play together in the halves after their two well-publicised scuffles in Gladstone.
Cherry-Evans was among a host of Manly players who watched Hastings play for Blacktown at Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday.
Barrett will name Hastings before giving himself three days to finalise his side. If he again overlooks Hastings, Barrett may move Dylan Walker from centre into five-eighth.
Under NRL rules, Manly have until Saturday — 24 hours before the match — to finalise their starting side for the Allianz Stadium game.
“I can tell you now that when we name our 21 on Tuesday, Jackson will be in that 21,” Manly chief executive Lyall Gorman told Triple M.
“I’ve discussed that with the coach this morning so you can remove that speculation.
“We will pick our best 17 for that game and get on with the business. We’re not far off winning.”
Hastings could also be considered as a bench player if overlooked for the five-eighth role.
“If I’m coach and my No. 6 goes down, the first thing I’m doing is getting Hastings, putting him in six and pulling the group in and saying: ‘Boys, he’s playing, you guys get out there and show me what you can do’,” said former Australian and NSW centre Ryan Girdler.
The situation is as fascinating as it is confusing.
Manly say the players don’t want to play with Hastings, but six of his teammates turned up at Belmore on Saturday.
Some question whether the playing group hasn’t offered enough support to Barrett, who made the difficult call to demote Hastings to Blacktown.
“Who came in and spoke to ‘Baz’ (Barrett) from the playing group and said ‘we don’t want to play with this guy?’ Is that any clearer?” Girdler asked.
Manly second-rower Jack Gosiewski will miss four weeks after breaking his hand against the Knights.
And Sea Eagles outside back, Jono Wright, broke his hand on the weekend playing for Blacktown in another blow for Manly’s depth.
The team will be formally announced at 4pm Tuesday. Gorman denied he hadn’t offered Barrett sufficient support.
SEA EAGLES CASUALTY WARD
Jorge Taufua (Collarbone, Round 12)
Curtis Sironen (ACL, Season)
Kelepi Tanginoa (ACL, Season)
Brad Parker (Knee, Round 12)
Lachlan Croker (ACL, Season)
Jack Gosiewski (Hand, Round 13)
Matthew Wright (Concussion, Round 9)
Jono Wright (Broken hand, Round 13)