WAG feud behind $800k star’s sidelining from Newcastle Knights

Jackson Hastings’ absence from the Newcastle Knights has been revealed with a shock WAG feud said to be at the core of it all.

Jackson Hastings’ continued absence from the Newcastle Knights is reportedly due to a feud between his partner and a senior players partner.

The 29-year-old halfback has been left stranded to play in the NSW Cup despite the Knights starting the season with a 3-5 record.

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Hastings is earning $800,000 this season, but a recent report indicated he was on the outer with the playing group. His partner, Amelia Smith, is also reported to have played a part.

The report indicates Hastings had a falling out with a senior player in the team due to their wives not seeing eye-to-eye over a comment Hastings’ partner made, according to The SMH.

The feud is said to have escalated when the unnamed player went to club powerbrokers and made his feelings known with the club reportedly backing him over Hastings.

What was allegedly said by Smith has not been revealed by the club.

Amelia Smith and Jackson Hastings.

Hastings can’t crack the Knights squad. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Knights coach Adam O’Brien refused to indulge on the report, but defended his decision to keep Hastings in reserve grade.

“The problems that I highlighted (with the players) or the areas of improvement, I think it would be unfair on Jackson to think that he’s the one that can come in and fix all of those things,” he said.

“There’s a number of other variables and I’m comfortable sticking with the crew that we’ve had at the moment.

“There was a fair bit of talk last year that I chopped and changed and now there’s probably a bit of talk that I’m not chopping and changing.

“It’s hard to please.”

Hastings is off-contract at the end of the year and has been linked with a return to the Super League.

O’Brien has confirmed Hastings won’t be at the Knights in 2026.

“The club has also been upfront and honest that going forward he won’t be offered a new deal,” O’Brien said.

Amelia Smith is reportedly feuding with the wife of a senior Knights player.

Hastings is stuck playing in the NSW Cup. NRL PHOTOS

NRL legend Andrew Johns questioned the club for leaving Hastings out and said that no matter what was unfolding, they simply had to put their best players on the park.

“For the good of the team, you have to put that aside,” Johns said.

“Whether it’s the (Knights) CEO or someone else, you’ve got to get them all together and sort it out.”

The Knights however eased the pressure on the club by snapping a five-game losing streak with a 30-4 victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday.

A day later Hastings reapplied the pressure by playing the role of the hero as he set up a late try to steer the reserve grade side to victory over Souths in the NSW Cup.

With the Knights sitting 12th on the NRL ladder, Hastings’ continued absence will remain a lingering shadow throughout the 2025 season.