NRL 2022: Bulldogs linked to Jackson Hastings, star shifted to lock in Wests Tigers shake up
A three-way selection shock at Wests Tigers could have wider ramifications for the club and one of its star players.
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Interim Wests Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley has sprung a three-way selection shock which could trigger ramifications throughout the embattled club.
As revealed first on The Daily Telegraph website, Kimmorley has moved halfback Jackson Hastings to lock, five-eighth Luke Brooks reverts back to halfback with centre Adam Doueihi being shifted to No.6 for Sunday’s match against Penrith.
Kimmorley’s decision continues an internal power struggle over which two players will be selected in the halves.
Hastings has been forced to accept the positional switch but insiders say he is unsettled at being shunted from the halfback and playmaker roles he treasures. He has been among Wests Tigers’ best this season.
There is a question mark hovering above the relationship among the three players, who were spotted in deep discussion inside the Tigers’ dressing room after last Saturday night’s loss to Parramatta.
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Kimmorley’s move has pushed Joe Ofahengaue into the front row with Luke Garner to the bench.
It led to immediate speculation about Hastings, who comes off contract after next season amid a gentle link with the Bulldogs.
Wests Tigers are aware Hastings can negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 but haven’t revealed their plans about the classy playmaker.
It is known that Brooks and Doueihi are mates.
Doueihi told Kimmorley last week that he desperately wanted to play No.6 while Brooks has always seen himself as a No.7. Adding to the situation, Brooks went public claiming Doueihi was best suited to playing five-eighth.
Hastings may feel he’s been pushed to an unfamiliar position by Brooks and Doueihi.
“Personally I think his best position is five-eighth,” Brooks said.
But Hastings’ manager, Sam Ayoub, quickly shot down any suggestion his client was unsettled at being moved to lock, declaring: “Jackson’s not the sort of player to complain about anything, as much as his preference would be to play halfback.
“He will play where he’s selected. There’s no issue and anybody who suggests otherwise wouldn’t have a clue.”
Pressed on Hastings’ future, Ayoub said: “There’s no reason for us to be doing anything at this stage. He’s 18 months away from being off contract. Just because we’re allowed to talk on November 1, it’s not always necessarily the right thing to do.”
With regular skipper James Tamou missing with a calf injury — he will return this weekend — Hastings was appointed Wests Tigers captain for the Eels game.
After about the three-way tussle for the two halves spots last week, Hastings said: “All three of us want to play in the halves, that’s no secret.
“I feel sorry for the coaches picking the team each week. I’m sort of fighting for my future as are the rest of the players in that dressing room.
“Luke (Brooks) has been a cornerstone of this club for so many years and he’s worn the flak for all of us that have been a part of this club, so he is someone that I love to put my arm around.”
With Michael Maguire as head coach, Hastings took over as chief playmaker in mid-April, relegating Brooks to a secondary role. There were reports ahead of round 16 that Brooks would be dropped but he retained his place in the NRL side.
Kimmorley has not won a game since taking over from Maguire, who was sacked in early June. Wests Tigers match against Penrith kicks off at 2pm this Sunday at CommBank Stadium.
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The Wests Tigers may explore the prospect of reuniting club icons and 2005 grand final heroes Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah on their coaching staff next season if they push ahead with plans to appoint Tim Sheens.
Sheens is leading the search for a new coach at the Tigers but momentum is growing for the wily veteran to do the job himself given the precarious position the club finds itself in after years of mediocrity.
They will also need to make a decision on recruitment given Jackson Hastings and Adam Doueihi are among those entering the last year of their deals.
Their contracts mirror that of Parramatta star Mitchell Moses and there are some within the club who would like to see the Tigers launch a big-money play to bring him home.
Having been knocked back by Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo, there is a belief in some quarters that the Tigers would be best placed appointing Sheens for a short time to mentor his successor.
There is also strong support for Marshall and Farah to up their involvement on the coaching side of things — both remain involved with the club but would likely have greater involvement if Sheens was to take the reins.
Sheens, Marshall and Farah were central figures in the Tigers’ last premiership win in 2005. The years since have been lean but all three have returned to the club in some capacity this season and upping their involvement would be a huge public relations coup for the club given the adoration they hold from Tigers fans.
“I do want to coach,” Marshall told the Monday Scrum podcast on Triple M NRL.
“I just don’t know what level or what commitment. That is probably the biggest thing. At the end of the day it is whatever is best for the club.
“I have expressed that to the club and they know that.”
Marshall has been in demand in retirement and acknowledged the financial rewards of being an assistant coach only made the decision more difficult.
“Look how many things I have on at the moment,” he said.
“This is a now thing. Do you have to pay any bills? Do you know what I mean? Assistant coach is very different (to a head coach).”
Sheens will likely be the first domino to fall, although he is expected to work through a shortlist of candidates first. The Tigers started with a lengthy list of prospective coaches which they have been whittling down with a view to conducting interviews with potential replacements for Michael Maguire, who was recently sacked.
However, they may cut the process short if the club decides that Sheens is the right man to take over. One of the likely candidates — St Helens coach Kristian Woolf — is expected to commit his future to the Dolphins in coming weeks, where he has been earmarked to replace Wayne Bennett as part of a succession plan.
Canterbury were also linked with Woolf but it is understood they haven’t given up hope of luring Ciraldo to Belmore — there have been whispers in recent days that he is seriously considering the approach from Bulldogs head of football Phil Gould.
The Tigers’ decision could have ramifications at Souths as well given they are locked in talks to bring Sam Burgess back to the club. Souths were likely to offer Burgess an assistant coaching position if John Morris was snapped up by the Tigers.
Morris could figure in the Tigers’ plans even if Sheens opts to become head coach, serving potentially as an assistant with a view to becoming his successor down the track.
News Corp understands that Burgess is leaning towards returning to South Sydney rather than accepting a position to work alongside Bennett and Woolf at the Dolphins next season.
Farah remains involved with the Tigers on game day but the plan would likely see him take a more hands-on role with the side under the new regime. So too Marshall, who has been involved in pathways coaching at the club in recent times.
Interim Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley went public last week with his desire to see Marshall more involved with a view to getting the best out of halfback Luke Brooks.
Whoever gets the job will make their first order of business a decision on Brooks, who remains in the sights of Newcastle should he be given a release from the Tigers.
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