Banished Manly five-eighth Jackson Hastings on Super League’s radar

JACKSON Hastings may not finish the season with Manly as a series of English clubs look to sign the out of favour halfback from the Sea Eagles.

Jackson Hastings pictured during the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles game held at the Belmore Sports Ground in Belmore.Picture: Christian Gilles

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JACKSON Hastings may not finish the season at Manly, with English clubs circling for the troubled playmaker’s signature.

Hastings’ manager Sam Ayoub confirmed a number of English Super League teams have expressed interest in the banished five-eighth.

The former Roosters and St George Illawarra talent has spent the majority of the season in the Intrust Super Premiership with Blacktown after Manly teammates refused to play alongside him.

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The Sea Eagles have been hit hard by injury, but they refuse to go against their word and name Hastings in the NRL.

This was even the case when the club lost starting hooker Api Koroisau for 8 to 10 weeks with a fractured right foot.

Koroisau’s injury opened the door for rising No. 9 Manase Fainu to make his NRL debut against St George Illawarra on Saturday.

Despite naming Fainu, the NRL refused to grant him an official clearance to play.

The NRL then rejected Manly’s exemption request, claiming the Sea Eagles already had three fit hookers in Hastings, Lewis Brown and Matt Wright.

Hastings can’t get a look in for first grade this season.

Coach Trent Barrett has opted to select Brown at hooker for this weekend’s clash against the Dragons.

This leaves Hastings to once again play for Blacktown in the reserve grade ranks.

Ayoub says the dropped playmaker’s preference is to remain in Australia, but this could change if he fails to pick up a new NRL club.

It’s understood one NRL team has expressed interest in Hastings.

“Jackson isn’t going to England at this stage, but if the interest keeps accelerating the way it has that might change,” Ayoub said.

“He has got commitments here and wants to stay in the NRL — hopefully that can happen.”

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