Jackson Hastings says he was hurt by allegations he fell out with Trent Robinson

JACKSON Hastings has talked of the “hurt” he felt following allegations he and coach Trent Robinson had fallen out following his axing to NSW Cup.

The Roosters have not won a game without Hastings this year.

RISING Rooster Jackson Hastings has talked of the “hurt” he felt following allegations he and coach Trent Robinson had fallen out following his axing to NSW Cup.

Outstanding against Wests Tigers, 20-year-old Hastings hit back at claims he wanted out of the club, while also responding to the ongoing media attention that has followed him in 2016.

Asked about the negative headlines, the son of Roosters legend Kevin Hastings replied: “It’s part of being Jackson Hastings I think.

“You know, I’ve been getting called different names ever since I was a kid.

“It’s a bit laughable because the people tossing this up, they don’t even know me.

“But if you speak with the people who do, they’d laugh it at as well. But that’s not for me to decide.

“My job is to keep turning up to training and keep trying to be the best bloke I can.”

Despite only being recalled to the side midway through a Wednesday training session, when halfback Mitchell Pearce injured his calf, Hastings was outstanding in the Tigers win — setting up two key tries.

Speaking afterwards, the playmaker was quick to shoot down rumours that he had fallen out with Robinson after being dropped to Wyong, or that he wanted out of the club.

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Asked what story had bothered him the most, Hastings replied: “That I was unsettled at the club, didn’t got on with the coach — that hurt me.

“And while you try not to read into things, when it’s hitting you in the face, it becomes hard to take.

“Robbo and I had a few chats. I’m not going to say what was said, but we had some honest discussions and both walked out the door smiling.

“He made a decision to drop me — everybody gets dropped at some point in their career — and I took it on the chin. It’s all been blown out of proportion.”

Hastings also said he wanted to stay at Bondi Junction long after his current contract, which doesn’t expire until the end of 2017.

“I love this club, mate,’’ he said. “All the rumours saying I was going to every different club, it was laughable.

“I’ve been here since I was 16 and I’m not going nowhere.

Hastings set up two tries in the win over the Tigers.

“I’ve got a really good relationship with a lot of people here and am really proud to wear the jersey. This is where I want to stay.”

Robinson was full of praise for the halfback afterwards. And with Pearce not guaranteed to be back for the Melbourne clash, the coach was asked what Hastings had to do to return to the NRL fulltime.

“Play like he did tonight,’’ he said.

Asked if he had felt the need to reaffirm his position with Robinson over the past fortnight, Hastings added: “Nah, mate.

“It’s funny because we talk all the time.

“He’s a really good man manager and a really good person. You can tell by the way he interacts with all the boys that he has a lot of respect for us and we have a lot of respect for him.

“We go out there to play our best for Robbo.”

Originally published as Jackson Hastings says he was hurt by allegations he fell out with Trent Robinson