Jackson Hastings says he wants to play alongside Mitchell Pearce when he returns from suspension

YOUNG Roosters playmaker Jackson Hastings says he wants to play alongside Mitchell Pearce in the halves when he returns and will fight spot in the starting side.

NRL Rd 4 - Roosters v Sea Eagles

IT’S the well-rehearsed catch cry of every footballer keen to appease his coach.

“I’ll be happy to do whatever is best for the team “.

That was the well-worn response from young Roosters playmaker Jackson Hastings to the suggestion his halves partner and fellow rookie Jayden Nikorima would be favoured over him to link-up with Mitchell Pearce on his return from suspension.

This would see Hastings drop to the bench as utility and in particular as support to hard working Roosters captain and hooker Jake Friend.

It is a role not unfamiliar to him, considering Hastings played from the bench in most of his 2015 appearances, where he provided plenty of spark from dummy-half.

But once pressed on the matter, the confident 20-year old makes his intentions clear.

He wants to play alongside Pearce and isn’t shying away from the challenge of outplaying Nikorima to the position.

Jayden Nikorima and Jackson Hastings during a Sydney Roosters training session. Picture Gregg Porteous

“You have to earn your position here”, said Hastings.

“If you’re not playing good footy you probably end up on the bench so it’s up to me and him to play really good footy and fight it out for that position.

“I want to be in the starting team and playing in the halves

“But if Robbo [Trent Robinson] needs me to go back to the bench when Jake is tired at hooker and if that’s going to be best for the team to win games, then I’ll be happy to do that”.

When you speak to the Illawarra junior you almost forget his career is only 23 games old.

Hastings speaks with maturity beyond his years, which is evident by the way he reflects on the hype surrounding himself and fellow rookie Roosters, Latrell Mitchell and Nikorima in the lead-up to the 2016 season.

“There was a lot of expectation ... obviously we were three kids who did very well in the under 20s and we played well at representative level in juniors.

Latrell Mitchell and Jackson Hastings celebrate a try. Moore Park. Picture Gregg Porteous

“We were probably expected to set the world on fire straight away.

“I think on the other two it was pretty unfair, especially Latrell. He’s 18-years old.

“For a kid to come in and play fullback up against the best halfbacks with great kicking games is a really tough job ... I think any criticism of him so far is unfair and he’ll get better with every game.

“Myself and the other two are confidence players and I think once they hit their best form and start to gaining confident I think you’ll see the best from of what we can offer then.

Hastings has also shouldered the responsibility of helping to guide Mitchell and Nikorima, through the up and downs of the NRL even though he’s only 12 months their senior.

“I try to fill them in on what I knew as much as I can.

”But I think the only way to find out what to really expect is to going out in the middle and playing.

Jackson Hastings takes on the Sea Eagles defence.

“It’s been a hard couple of four weeks for not only us three but the rest of the team.

“I suppose you learn the hard way sometimes but I think that will hold us in good stead for the back end of the year.

The Roosters, who are still searching for their first win of the season, will take on the Warriors and former tricolours fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on Sunday.

And Hastings knows they’ll need to be at their best to shutdown the attacking dynamo.

“We know Rodger is a quality player, some of the things he did for us last year were out of this world and he’s just starting to hit his straps at the Warriors so it’s probably the worst time to face him.

“But they have class all over the park … if we focus on one player we could be in a bit of trouble.

Originally published as Jackson Hastings says he wants to play alongside Mitchell Pearce when he returns from suspension