Sydney Roosters to field the most inexperienced halves combination in the NRL

THE Sydney Roosters will field the most inexperienced halves combination in the NRL when the season starts in a few weeks.

DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMSSSION FROM TIM MORRISEY or ADAM MOBBS -Jackson Hastings during the Sydney Roosters media session at the Sydney Cricket Ground .Picture Gregg Porteous

They’ve become the story of the NRL pre-season by default, but Jackson Hastings and Jayden Nikorima can finally let their football do the talking.

The Sydney Roosters pair — the most inexperienced halves combination in the NRL — will step out for the Tri Colours against St Helens on Saturday morning (Sydney time) as replacements for Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney.

Even Roosters supremo Nick Politis is spending time with the youngsters and offering his words of wisdom from his 40-year involvement in the game as this photo shows on a beach in Dubai during last week’s pre-season training camp.

Jayden Nikorima, Roosters chairman Nick Politis and Jackson Hastings in Dubai.

“We’re expecting they’ll do really well,” Politis said.

“Trent (Robinson) could have gone out and tried to buy another halfback when we lost Mitchell but he has tremendous confidence in the two boys.

“Everyone at the club feels the same way and most importantly their teammates do.”

Pearce is not expected to return to football until round 12 of the competition at the earliest, following his suspension as a result of a drunken episode on Australia Day.

He is still in a rehab clinic in Thailand and has to appear before the Roosters board and NRL integrity unit before his punishment is handed down.

Hastings and Nikorima are by far the most inexperienced halves combination the Roosters have ever fielded for an NRL kick-off.

Jackson Hastings will get his chance to shine in the absence of Mitchell Pearce.

They are old teammates from Australian schoolboys are shared a hotel room in Dubai last week during a pre-season training camp, and now Manchester for the World Club Series.

Both are now under the guidance of league Immortal Andrew Johns, who has joined Trent Robinson’s coaching staff from the Manly Sea Eagles.

“This whole trip has been about nurturing our young talent as much as the actual game against St Helens,” Politis said.

Sydney Roosters player Jayden Nikorima at Roosters HQ in Moore Park.

“We took a number of our best youngsters just to Dubai to get the feel of a high performance training camp and to learn more about the culture.

“They returned to Sydney when the players left Dubai for England.”

While Hastings is highly regarded after filling in so well for an injured Pearce at the end of last season, Nikorima, 19, is the rookie who turned his back on the Broncos and Wayne Bennett last year after they signed Anthony Milford from the Raiders.

He has already played for Australian schoolboys and is regarded as a future rep player.

Originally published as Sydney Roosters to field the most inexperienced halves combination in the NRL