Manly coach Trent Barrett opts for Lewis Brown ahead of Jackson Hastings to confront Dragons
WHAT does Jackson Hastings have to do to get a game? Even with his preferred NRL hooker ruled ineligible for Saturday’s clash with the Dragons, Manly coach Trent Barrett is employing other options.
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MANLY coach Trent Barrett has once again overlooked outcast Jackson Hastings — despite having his preferred NRL hooker ruled ineligible for this weekend’s match.
The Daily Telegraph revealed rookie hooker Manase Fainu, 19, had been named to play St George Illawarra on Saturday before being ruled out by the NRL.
Manly officials had sought an exemption from the NRL to play Fainu — but it was denied.
The Sea Eagles then attempted to sway the NRL again, based on the club’s crippling injury toll, but the NRL still wouldn’t budge.
NRL management claimed Manly already had three fit and available hookers — Hastings, Lewis Brown or Matt Wright.
The Daily Telegraph contacted the NRL again but they hadn’t altered their stance.
On Thursday, Barrett hinted Brown would be his team’s hooker and dummy half, not Hastings, who wasn’t named in the club’s 21-man squad.
“I have a few options on the 21-man squad. Brown has spent some time there,” Barrett said.
It seems Hastings — no matter what happens at Brookvale — will not play first grade again this year.
He will play five-eighth for Blacktown against Saints at Wollongong on Sunday.
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Barrett’s hooking problems increased after regular dummy half API Koroisau was ruled out for up to 10 weeks after fracturing his right foot against New Zealand Warriors last Saturday in Christchurch.
“We followed the process to try and get Manase approval but the NRL had knocked it back — we have to move on,” said Manly football manager, Gareth Holmes.
Brown will play in jumper 19 for the Dragons match.
Having already filled their 30-man roster, Manly had no room to elevate Fainu into their NRL squad.
Hastings has been playing Blacktown Workers after a well-documented blow-up with Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans. The drama was first revealed on The Daily Telegraph’s back page on April 17.
Manly has enjoyed just four wins this season and sit 13th on the NRL competition table.
And the Sea Eagles will start heavy underdogs against the competition leading Saints at WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
Manly chief executive Lyall Gorman said the Sea Eagles enjoy some financial success in taking last week’s home game to Christchurch.
Gorman — who instigated the move — said the club would investigate taking further games away to New Zealand.
It doesn’t get any easier for Manly, who play second-placed Penrith at Panthers Stadium in their next match.