Tigers hero Jackson Hastings’ mic drop says it all about Luke Brooks

Jackson Hastings got to say the words every Tiger has wanted to blurt out when he brought up Luke Brooks after the win over Parramatta.

Jackson Hastings told everyone to back off. Photo: Getty, Fox League.

Field goal hero Jackson Hastings has put the Tigers’ critics back in their shells after a last-gasp victory over the Eels.

It was an Easter Monday miracle as the Tigers came back from the dead to win for the first time in 2022.

In one of the biggest upsets of the season, Hastings’ kick from just inside 40m sealed a 21-20 victory that very few saw coming after the Tigers’ 0-5 start to the year.

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With reports recently suggesting coach Michael Maguire had just a few weeks to keep his job if the side didn’t show improvement, the pressure valve has now been eased.

The pressure valve has also been released on under pressure playmaker Luke Brooks, who was earlier this month reported to have made a decision to activate the clause in his contract that would result in him being paid more than $1 million for the 2023 season with the Tigers.

The former Dally M halfback of the year has been the lightning rod for criticism of the cellar-dwellers — and it’s why he was the biggest talking point from the game.

Jackson Hastings celebrates with teammates after kicking the field-goal. Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images.

Hastings got to say the words all Tigers players have wanted to say this year, in telling Brooks’ critics to back off.

The former Manly star was interviewed on Fox League’s NRL 360 after the game. The popular show has repeatedly discussed Brooks’ form slump this season with co-host Paul Kent last week declaring the club was “without answers”.

Hastings brought up Brooks without being prompted in the post-match interview and called him the “man of the match”.

“Luke Brooks, get off his back for a week, hey. What a performance,” he said.

It was a sweet, sweet moment for the Tigers after the club’s gamble on shifting Brooks to the No. 6 jumper.

Fox League’s Michael Ennis said on Monday night Maguire’s decision to switch Brooks and Hastings around in the halves was a “masterstroke”.

Brooks was the Tigers’ first-half saviour after a week of intense scrutiny around his position in the side.

Jackson Hastings told everyone to back off. Photo: Getty, Fox League.

He sent a pearler of a pass to Luciano Leilua for the Tigers’ first try and then found David Nofoaluma with a cutout pass for their second.

It very nearly didn’t turn out that way with Eels star Mitchell Moses having an opportunity to win the game in the closing stages.

When the Tigers rejected three chances to take a shot for field goal, their fans would’ve been watching through their fingers.

But Moses kicked the Eels’ only shot wide and it proved fourth time lucky for Hastings, who finally chose to kick.

On the most chocolatey weekend of the year, nothing will be sweeter for the Tigers than this win.

The Eels were humbled by a hungry Tigers side. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The concern for the Tigers are some serious injuries to essential players.

Hooker Jake Simpkin fell to the turf in agony contesting a line drop-out in the second half and needed to be carted from the field with an ankle injury. In his absence, Brooks shifted to dummy half.

Less than 10 minutes later, Ken Maumalo required attention for a knee injury and was subbed off. Still, the Tigers soldiered on.

The Eels weren’t without injury concerns of their own; Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Tom Opacic left the field with what appeared to be ankle and neck injuries, respectively.

— with Jasper Bruce, NCA NewsWire

Originally published as Tigers hero Jackson Hastings’ mic drop says it all about Luke Brooks