DCE has only admiration for Hastings

Scott Bailey | May 3, 2022

Daly Cherry-Evans has declared he has no lingering bad blood with Jackson Hastings, stating his admiration for the way the Wests Tigers halfback has resurrected his NRL career.

Cherry-Evans and Hastings will face off on Saturday for the first time since their infamous Gladstone altercation as Manly teammates in 2018, which dramatically changed Hastings’ career.

Coming off the bench at the time for the Sea Eagles, the then-22-year-old was cast aside to reserve grade training and games by coach Trent Barrett before moving to England.

Hastings is now back as a genuine star at the Tigers after waiting 1434 days for another NRL game, and has spoken repeatedly this season about how he has returned a far more mature man.

The Great Britain international has also made clear his desire to move on from his time at both Manly and the Sydney Roosters, with no interest in opening old wounds with former teammates.

However, both Cherry-Evans and Hastings did speak briefly after they both played trial matches in Gosford in February, with the Manly captain insistent the fallout from their past run-in was ancient history.

“I saw him after the trial match and said g’day and good luck for the season,” Cherry-Evans said.

“I get that it was a situation at the time that got a bit of publicity, so obviously (the media) are doing (their) job and will reignite it.

“But I can guarantee if you ask him or ask me, it’s all fine. There’s nothing to worry about, we’re not too concerned.”

Instead, Cherry-Evans has been impressed by how his fellow playmaker has turned his career around with the pair set to mark each other at Brookvale on Saturday.

Hastings was the Man of Steel in his first full season in England, and took both Wigan and Salford to grand finals.

He has been the brightest spark at the Tigers in years, helping them record back-to-back wins after claiming the No.7 jersey before last week’s narrow loss to St George Illawarra.

“I definitely (admire it),” Cherry-Evans said. 

“There’s not many people who have been able to do that. Jacko has done it recently, Blake Green was another as well. 

“It’s probably a show of the players they are to be able to go early in your career and come back.

“I tip my cap to someone who can do that.

“You’d have to say it has been a massive benefit for him to go away and come back and regroup.

“He’s played really good footy, he’s obviously been a really big part of (the Tigers) resurgence over the last month.”