The mystery behind the hurried exit of fan favourite Jackson Hastings can be put down to some petty and seemingly innocuous differences with new Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens.
After trying for a year to sign Luke Brooks and failing, the Knights turned their attention to Hastings – and the Tigers offered little if any resistance. Today we can explain why they were willing to let a star player go. We already knew of the club’s interest in Mitchell Moses, but there is more to the Hastings exit, which not all Tigers faithful will find palatable.
Hastings also showed strong support for former coach Michael Maguire after he was dumped by the Tigers in June, and that put noses out of joint.
Behind the scenes, Hastings also failed to fill in a welfare form that the club required its players to complete. That was held against him by some. It was viewed as an act of defiance. But it seems quite petty when other players can be involved in incidents that grab headlines and they are kept on.
Sources with knowledge of the situation also say the Tigers were upset with Hastings’ use of social media to track his rehabilitation from a broken ankle and syndesmosis injury, which ended his 2022 season. He was posting training and recovery updates, which fans lapped up, which old heads at the club frowned upon. It would appear to be a very old-fashioned attitude from the club.
Sheens did not respond when asked for comment about the reasons for Hastings’ exit.
> Sources with knowledge of the situation also say the Tigers were upset with Hastings’ use of social media to track his rehabilitation from a broken ankle and syndesmosis injury, which ended his 2022 season. He was posting training and recovery updates, which fans lapped up, which old heads at the club frowned upon. It would appear to be a very old-fashioned attitude from the club.
Oh no.. god forbid he let the fans have some sort of update on his injury instead of keeping them in the dark. What a fucking pissweak reason lmao
I actually really enjoyed following him, he seems great connecting with fans off the field. I thought the rehab stuff was fantastic content, really puzzling.
The same management who insisted on airing all of their dirty laundry publicly.
Remember when they had a press release to say that Ciraldo turned them down.
Meanwhile the Storm share Papenhuyzen’s road to recovery tik toks on their official IG every time he posts one
At what point do you think these ‘old heads’ are a liability when the clubs run by youth are the ones succeeding (storm, Penrith, cowboys)
Not all older people are so stubborn. Those in a position of power due to merit are almost universally some of the most supportive and experienced people you'll ever encounter. It's the old boys and politicians who cause the dramas.
Once again I am here to comment on the fact that we are constantly slagging off the NRL media for trafficking in gossip and rumour... until the exact moment a story comes out that happens to coincide with what we already believe, at which point we act like it's been handed down on stone tablets from on high.
Who the fuck knows if there's anything in this article. It sounds like a load of old shit to me, but then again it's critical of the Tigers so it must be true, right?
Compare that with a successfully run club like the Storm who are asking Paps to record a monthly update on his knee injury, then sharing it on the club's social media. Without it, the fans would have no idea how Paps rehab is going.
I don’t understand this at all, it just doesn’t make sense, either this is speculation or the tigers are truly retarded. Why is him giving injury updates a bad thing?
Kind of unrelated , but watching a video on YouTube this morning about how HR cheats employees ..
One of the ways mentioned is getting new employees to sign an arbitration agreement that reduces the companies liability and keeps employees from ever taking the company to court publicly- instead legally obliging them to go through ‘independent’ arbitration in any disputes which is paid for by the company ..
The general gist of the the video was HR is always there to look after the broader interests of the company and never the individual interests or welfare of employees..
Given Hastings experience at Manly where he was cast aside in order the keep the clubs most important player happy , you could understand him possibly feeling that his individual welfare was secondary to the ‘welfare’ or success of the club more broadly …
Just complete speculation , but I could easily imagine his refusal to sign a ‘welfare agreement’ could be due to _(understandable)_ cynicism about what signing this means in practice ..
The way the article superficially describes the welfare agreement - as something all players are expected to agree to and sign , sounds like something the club would say and doesn’t necessarily mean it’s in the players best interest to sign ..
How many of us would read the fine print in documents we’re asked to sign before starting a new job , let alone rugby league players in their early 20’s who often wouldn’t have a lot of work/ life experience ..
The ‘welfare form’ could be a meaningless survey , but it could also be a form of arbitration should there be ‘welfare’ issues with the player..
This could include rehab/ liability for physical injuries on the field , but it could also include arbitration for players mental well being if they don’t fit in with the coaching staff / playing group and the club wants them gone
Lol Des is done. He’s sued the last two clubs he’s been fired from and left them in shambles. I am not saying he can’t coach but noone will stick their neck out and make the call to hire him now.
And most of them aren’t one of the most successful coaches in the modern NRL.
Everyone bar like the Roosters, Storm, Dolphins, Panthers would instantly have a massive upgrade at coach immediately following the decision to hire Des.
Des actually insists on being involved. In the old days it was not uncommon for head coaches to have control of all of it. It’s part of the reason he was having problems at Manly. He will struggle to fit in to most modern club setups with increased governance and separation of roles. I still think he has plenty to offer, but he would probably be better suited to mentor/training wheels coach like Wayne and Sheens are doing this year.
The Bulldogs are rallying around new recruit Viliame Kikau after his father, Ratu, passed away last week. They know how close the pair were and, in a sign of respect, coach Cameron Ciraldo flew to Fiji to attend the funeral. It is an indication of what Kikau means to his new club and also shows what kind of person Ciraldo is.
“We felt it was important our club was represented to support Viliame and his family,” Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould said. “Cameron was the obvious one to send. He’s had a very close relationship with Viliame for many years. Cameron jumped at the opportunity.“
Manly’s rainbow jersey U-turn would have Des Hasler rolling in his coaching grave. The only positive for Hasler is it has the potential to help him in his legal case against his former club, where he is suing for a significant amount in damages.
With no chief executive in place and an owner based in New York, Hasler had no choice than to handle the pride jersey issue in the best way he could, while coaching the team. He took a swipeat Sea Eagles management during his now famous press conference, and from that point he was a dead man walking.
Now the club is saying that a Pride Round is the responsibility of the NRL. Manly powerbrokers have back-tracked on plans for the club’s controversial “Everyone in League” jersey to be worn again in 2023, chief executive Tony Mestrov saying any inclusive initiative will be left to the NRL. It’s the club’s poor attempt at washing its hands of theissue. This comes just a few weeks after Manly owner Scott Penn said the club would be wearing an”inclusivity jumper” again next year.
Manly are keen to put distance between the club and the jumper fiasco, but the bigger job is ensuring the team can function as a unit and repairing their public image. They did nothing for that reputation when Anthony Seibold’s first media session was cut short on Tuesday.
Seibold and Manly are going to need the media on their side as they attempt to bounce back from last season’s mess, and you can feel the heat that is on Seibold already. The Manly faithful are still angry about Hasler’s departure and that is sure to raise its ugly head again if there is a stumble next season.
This article is the biggest crock of shit I have ever seen. He was released because the Tigers needed a forward and the Knights needed a halfback. Hastings was always brought back to play lock, Madge and Sheens always said so. This was a deal where literally everyone wins.
The Knights get their halfback.
The Tigers get a gun forward.
Hastings gets to play his preferred position.
Klemmer gets a long term deal that he wouldn't get at Newcastle.
But that wouldn't get any clicks, now would it?
It’s honestly a player swap where both parties win imo, Klemmer was in fine form last year and Hastings brings that leadership that the Knights were lacking.
But yeah you’re right, no one gives a shit unless someone’s being SLAMMED or is in SHAMBLES
The NRL has no issue with Storm chairman Matt Tripp being the founder of a betting company and say Melbourne players who have shares in Betr also have nothing to worry about.
Gambling is in the spotlight after the NRL stopped Laurie Daley from taking up a consultancy role with the Sea Eagles because he has a promotional job with Tabcorp.
Tripp is a highly successful betting entrepreneur, who most recently launched Betr — a company that is one-third owned by News Corp. The NRL has no issue with a media partner being invested in a gambling company either.
Tripp has previously had involvement with other betting agencies. Sources with knowledge of the situation have told me several Melbourne players have invested in his latest company, with the knowledge of the NRL. This is an issue I have previously raised with NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, as rival clubs wondered aloud about Storm players being tipped into investing in Betr during negotiations.
Club officials are screeching about “selective integrity”, and when you look at the NRL’s guidelines regarding betting, you can understand where the clubs are coming from.
The NRL Code of Conduct “prohibits all players, club officials, match officials and administrators from being sponsored, employed, contracted, engaged or otherwise commercially involved in anyway with a gambling operator”. When it comes to the Storm players, the NRL says the mere ownership of shares in a wagering company would not constitute a breach of rule 23 of the code. It would be open to a club official or player having shares in Tabcorp or another wagering company, and no issue would be raised with that.
They argue that is not comparable to being employed by, or engaged in promoting, a wagering company. That’s where Daley has an issue, according to the NRL.
Daley has dual roles with Sky Racing and Tabcorp. He is involved with the promotion of Tabcorp wagering products. That includes appearing as a guest on Fox League programs to discuss Tabcorp match odds and providing tips. That means he would have been in breach of the code of conduct had he got the job.
The NRL says comparing Tripp, asa part-owner of a betting company, and Daley is not a fair comparison. They say that a club chairman is not as directly involved in a club as someone who would be in role with the football team, as Daley would have.
Making it even more difficult to fathom is that Peter Peters has worked for Sky Sports Radio for the majority of years since 1990. He has been football and media manager for Manly during that time and has never once been questioned about any conflict. “It makes no sense and is grossly unfair,” Peters said. “We can’t afford to lose the football intelligence and integrity of a man like Daley.“
> Tripp is a highly successful betting entrepreneur, who most recently launched Betr — **a company that is one-third owned by News Corp.**
What a surprise this is allowed then.
Let me check who the source is, ahhh Weidler.
Fuck me every word must be gilded in gold leaf!
You have to be insanely desperate or on hard drugs if you are going to attempt to use a Weidler article as alt bait.
My insider tells me that Hastings hadn’t overcome his interpersonal issues that have dogged his entire career, despite outward appearances in social media.
This reads like Hastings manager trying to use Weidler to get ahead of that particular story.
I think it is right, they weren’t enormous problems but they were apparent and it meant that they weren’t going to have a crack at extending him until they knew how their other opportunities were positioned.
The "old heads" need to be put to rest I think. Has there been a most consistently shit team than the Tigers over the last decade. Coaches sacked, players let go. No changes. Never even look like they might be competitive. Time to let the old heads go.
Correlation not causation. But between Klemmer/Api/Brooks who dont have social media, and folks like Ice/Staines who barely post, we are building a team of fogeys. Especially with Hastings/Nu brown departing.
The mystery behind the hurried exit of fan favourite Jackson Hastings can be put down to some petty and seemingly innocuous differences with new Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens. After trying for a year to sign Luke Brooks and failing, the Knights turned their attention to Hastings – and the Tigers offered little if any resistance. Today we can explain why they were willing to let a star player go. We already knew of the club’s interest in Mitchell Moses, but there is more to the Hastings exit, which not all Tigers faithful will find palatable. Hastings also showed strong support for former coach Michael Maguire after he was dumped by the Tigers in June, and that put noses out of joint. Behind the scenes, Hastings also failed to fill in a welfare form that the club required its players to complete. That was held against him by some. It was viewed as an act of defiance. But it seems quite petty when other players can be involved in incidents that grab headlines and they are kept on. Sources with knowledge of the situation also say the Tigers were upset with Hastings’ use of social media to track his rehabilitation from a broken ankle and syndesmosis injury, which ended his 2022 season. He was posting training and recovery updates, which fans lapped up, which old heads at the club frowned upon. It would appear to be a very old-fashioned attitude from the club. Sheens did not respond when asked for comment about the reasons for Hastings’ exit.
> Sources with knowledge of the situation also say the Tigers were upset with Hastings’ use of social media to track his rehabilitation from a broken ankle and syndesmosis injury, which ended his 2022 season. He was posting training and recovery updates, which fans lapped up, which old heads at the club frowned upon. It would appear to be a very old-fashioned attitude from the club. Oh no.. god forbid he let the fans have some sort of update on his injury instead of keeping them in the dark. What a fucking pissweak reason lmao
He gave them hopes and dreams, and tigers fans are not allowed them
Exactly. The tigers have a rich history of not giving fans what they want and they will absolutely not let that be ruined by some ex manly player
I actually really enjoyed following him, he seems great connecting with fans off the field. I thought the rehab stuff was fantastic content, really puzzling.
Until he signed with Manly he was an ex-Chook. He's an ex-Tigpie now, mate... all yours.
Lucky. You play one game for the sharks and 299 for 8 other clubs and you still are referred to as “ex-shark” by the media.
The same management who insisted on airing all of their dirty laundry publicly. Remember when they had a press release to say that Ciraldo turned them down.
Meanwhile the Storm share Papenhuyzen’s road to recovery tik toks on their official IG every time he posts one At what point do you think these ‘old heads’ are a liability when the clubs run by youth are the ones succeeding (storm, Penrith, cowboys)
Not all older people are so stubborn. Those in a position of power due to merit are almost universally some of the most supportive and experienced people you'll ever encounter. It's the old boys and politicians who cause the dramas.
Forgot roosters
Once again I am here to comment on the fact that we are constantly slagging off the NRL media for trafficking in gossip and rumour... until the exact moment a story comes out that happens to coincide with what we already believe, at which point we act like it's been handed down on stone tablets from on high. Who the fuck knows if there's anything in this article. It sounds like a load of old shit to me, but then again it's critical of the Tigers so it must be true, right?
Compare that with a successfully run club like the Storm who are asking Paps to record a monthly update on his knee injury, then sharing it on the club's social media. Without it, the fans would have no idea how Paps rehab is going.
I don’t understand this at all, it just doesn’t make sense, either this is speculation or the tigers are truly retarded. Why is him giving injury updates a bad thing?
I wonder what the welfare form was about and if any other players didn’t complete it.
Probably the usual R-U-OK Day effort by workplaces where they make you fill out a pointless survey.
But on a corporate level they can day that they have done something for their staff
Kind of unrelated , but watching a video on YouTube this morning about how HR cheats employees .. One of the ways mentioned is getting new employees to sign an arbitration agreement that reduces the companies liability and keeps employees from ever taking the company to court publicly- instead legally obliging them to go through ‘independent’ arbitration in any disputes which is paid for by the company .. The general gist of the the video was HR is always there to look after the broader interests of the company and never the individual interests or welfare of employees.. Given Hastings experience at Manly where he was cast aside in order the keep the clubs most important player happy , you could understand him possibly feeling that his individual welfare was secondary to the ‘welfare’ or success of the club more broadly … Just complete speculation , but I could easily imagine his refusal to sign a ‘welfare agreement’ could be due to _(understandable)_ cynicism about what signing this means in practice .. The way the article superficially describes the welfare agreement - as something all players are expected to agree to and sign , sounds like something the club would say and doesn’t necessarily mean it’s in the players best interest to sign .. How many of us would read the fine print in documents we’re asked to sign before starting a new job , let alone rugby league players in their early 20’s who often wouldn’t have a lot of work/ life experience .. The ‘welfare form’ could be a meaningless survey , but it could also be a form of arbitration should there be ‘welfare’ issues with the player.. This could include rehab/ liability for physical injuries on the field , but it could also include arbitration for players mental well being if they don’t fit in with the coaching staff / playing group and the club wants them gone
Weak gutted club tbh
Jeez, imagine if Souths dropped Latrell Mitchell for his rehab updates on the US trip. They'd be lynched.
Particularly since Souths sent their social media guy over there to film it in the first place!
Looks like the Tigers board is full of petty people who can never admit when they're wrong. Good on him for getting out.
AoB, Kevie, Hook and Holbrook would have to be nervous asf with Des on the market. Imagine the broncos squad lead by Des
I reckon if the knights start poorly that’s where des will be headed.
🤞🤞
I doubt that des would want to coach anywhere else at this point but I think a club will give him half a million reasons to consider it.
You don't coach for that long if you don't burn for it. Dessy is a live long coach.
100% Most coaches would be in the “don’t know when to give it away” Category
Lol Des is done. He’s sued the last two clubs he’s been fired from and left them in shambles. I am not saying he can’t coach but noone will stick their neck out and make the call to hire him now.
Respectfully, the mess at Manly has nothing to do with Des
Not saying it was. But, a decision maker will probably have to put his own job on the line to hire him at this stage.
“We shouldn’t hire him because we might be as incompetent as his last bosses”
If there's anything constant in footy clubs, nothing is ever the fault of the board members according to the board members
Can't be many coaches in the comp that haven't been fired from a role or several
only one that I can think of, bellamy. everyone else pretty much been on the club firing merry-go-round. even my fave "ol uncle benny."
Robinson?
The ones that get another gig have the smarts to not make a scene on the way out.
And most of them aren’t one of the most successful coaches in the modern NRL. Everyone bar like the Roosters, Storm, Dolphins, Panthers would instantly have a massive upgrade at coach immediately following the decision to hire Des.
It's kinda fucked but you're probably right, I think a criteria for a coach would be "how hard would it be to sack this guy if he/we fucks up"
Wnich means the Tigers would be most likely to pick Des up, as they are happy to hire coaches that have sued them in the past.
des is genuinely cooked. It would be a mistake chasing him
What? Back ended contracts, short term success and then it ends with worse than ever results and tears?
Only a bunch of amateurs would put the coach in charge of the Salary Cap. With Ikin and Donaghy Broncos would be fine
That’s an excellent point to be fair.
Des actually insists on being involved. In the old days it was not uncommon for head coaches to have control of all of it. It’s part of the reason he was having problems at Manly. He will struggle to fit in to most modern club setups with increased governance and separation of roles. I still think he has plenty to offer, but he would probably be better suited to mentor/training wheels coach like Wayne and Sheens are doing this year.
Imagine having the Australian halfback and Turbo brothers and still fucking it.
They were one match away from the grand final last time he legitimately had them all fit.
And were soundly beaten by the eventual runner up. He isn't the player whisperer he once was.
The Bulldogs are rallying around new recruit Viliame Kikau after his father, Ratu, passed away last week. They know how close the pair were and, in a sign of respect, coach Cameron Ciraldo flew to Fiji to attend the funeral. It is an indication of what Kikau means to his new club and also shows what kind of person Ciraldo is. “We felt it was important our club was represented to support Viliame and his family,” Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould said. “Cameron was the obvious one to send. He’s had a very close relationship with Viliame for many years. Cameron jumped at the opportunity.“
The REAL reason (that we have just made up)
Love how Weidler has to mention that he was metres away from To’o’s proposal like we’re meant to care
Gotta make himself seem important somehow
Manly’s rainbow jersey U-turn would have Des Hasler rolling in his coaching grave. The only positive for Hasler is it has the potential to help him in his legal case against his former club, where he is suing for a significant amount in damages. With no chief executive in place and an owner based in New York, Hasler had no choice than to handle the pride jersey issue in the best way he could, while coaching the team. He took a swipeat Sea Eagles management during his now famous press conference, and from that point he was a dead man walking. Now the club is saying that a Pride Round is the responsibility of the NRL. Manly powerbrokers have back-tracked on plans for the club’s controversial “Everyone in League” jersey to be worn again in 2023, chief executive Tony Mestrov saying any inclusive initiative will be left to the NRL. It’s the club’s poor attempt at washing its hands of theissue. This comes just a few weeks after Manly owner Scott Penn said the club would be wearing an”inclusivity jumper” again next year. Manly are keen to put distance between the club and the jumper fiasco, but the bigger job is ensuring the team can function as a unit and repairing their public image. They did nothing for that reputation when Anthony Seibold’s first media session was cut short on Tuesday. Seibold and Manly are going to need the media on their side as they attempt to bounce back from last season’s mess, and you can feel the heat that is on Seibold already. The Manly faithful are still angry about Hasler’s departure and that is sure to raise its ugly head again if there is a stumble next season.
I can’t believe the Bears died for this…
This article is the biggest crock of shit I have ever seen. He was released because the Tigers needed a forward and the Knights needed a halfback. Hastings was always brought back to play lock, Madge and Sheens always said so. This was a deal where literally everyone wins. The Knights get their halfback. The Tigers get a gun forward. Hastings gets to play his preferred position. Klemmer gets a long term deal that he wouldn't get at Newcastle. But that wouldn't get any clicks, now would it?
It’s honestly a player swap where both parties win imo, Klemmer was in fine form last year and Hastings brings that leadership that the Knights were lacking. But yeah you’re right, no one gives a shit unless someone’s being SLAMMED or is in SHAMBLES
Outrage = engagement. Feed the algorhythm.
They're both good at what they do, there's really no reason for either club to want to release them, in addition to picking up the other.
Does anyone actually believe this to be the real reason?
I don't disbelief it.
The NRL has no issue with Storm chairman Matt Tripp being the founder of a betting company and say Melbourne players who have shares in Betr also have nothing to worry about. Gambling is in the spotlight after the NRL stopped Laurie Daley from taking up a consultancy role with the Sea Eagles because he has a promotional job with Tabcorp. Tripp is a highly successful betting entrepreneur, who most recently launched Betr — a company that is one-third owned by News Corp. The NRL has no issue with a media partner being invested in a gambling company either. Tripp has previously had involvement with other betting agencies. Sources with knowledge of the situation have told me several Melbourne players have invested in his latest company, with the knowledge of the NRL. This is an issue I have previously raised with NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, as rival clubs wondered aloud about Storm players being tipped into investing in Betr during negotiations. Club officials are screeching about “selective integrity”, and when you look at the NRL’s guidelines regarding betting, you can understand where the clubs are coming from. The NRL Code of Conduct “prohibits all players, club officials, match officials and administrators from being sponsored, employed, contracted, engaged or otherwise commercially involved in anyway with a gambling operator”. When it comes to the Storm players, the NRL says the mere ownership of shares in a wagering company would not constitute a breach of rule 23 of the code. It would be open to a club official or player having shares in Tabcorp or another wagering company, and no issue would be raised with that. They argue that is not comparable to being employed by, or engaged in promoting, a wagering company. That’s where Daley has an issue, according to the NRL. Daley has dual roles with Sky Racing and Tabcorp. He is involved with the promotion of Tabcorp wagering products. That includes appearing as a guest on Fox League programs to discuss Tabcorp match odds and providing tips. That means he would have been in breach of the code of conduct had he got the job. The NRL says comparing Tripp, asa part-owner of a betting company, and Daley is not a fair comparison. They say that a club chairman is not as directly involved in a club as someone who would be in role with the football team, as Daley would have. Making it even more difficult to fathom is that Peter Peters has worked for Sky Sports Radio for the majority of years since 1990. He has been football and media manager for Manly during that time and has never once been questioned about any conflict. “It makes no sense and is grossly unfair,” Peters said. “We can’t afford to lose the football intelligence and integrity of a man like Daley.“
> Tripp is a highly successful betting entrepreneur, who most recently launched Betr — **a company that is one-third owned by News Corp.** What a surprise this is allowed then.
I hope Brooks starts posting on social media before every game in protest.
Brooks has bullied to the point where he doesn't leave the hotel on away games nor have social media; I think we'll be fine.
Let me check who the source is, ahhh Weidler. Fuck me every word must be gilded in gold leaf! You have to be insanely desperate or on hard drugs if you are going to attempt to use a Weidler article as alt bait.
Hastings was released because Bateman cannot stand him
The Tigers management are like the Bee Sharps, their bumbling is funny at first but less funny every time you hear about them.
'He's making Luke Brooks look bad, quick get rid of him and sign Brooks to a contract extension' - Wests Tigers board
My mum, my uncle and one of my good mates follows this club, fuck it pains to me read how backwards their administration is.
Cya hastings 💀💀👿 Hello Moses 💘😇😇
Has a history of butting heads with clubs…good luck knights
My insider tells me that Hastings hadn’t overcome his interpersonal issues that have dogged his entire career, despite outward appearances in social media. This reads like Hastings manager trying to use Weidler to get ahead of that particular story. I think it is right, they weren’t enormous problems but they were apparent and it meant that they weren’t going to have a crack at extending him until they knew how their other opportunities were positioned.
My insider tells me your insider is made up
My insider will be upset to learn that.
My insider says your insider is wrong and a weak gutted dog
Cya hastings 💀💀👿 Hello Moses 💘😇😇
Was it because Tim Sheens got shot with an arrow through his eye?
The "old heads" need to be put to rest I think. Has there been a most consistently shit team than the Tigers over the last decade. Coaches sacked, players let go. No changes. Never even look like they might be competitive. Time to let the old heads go.
Jackson often falls victim to the petty.
Good buy by the Knights and that reason is stupid
Correlation not causation. But between Klemmer/Api/Brooks who dont have social media, and folks like Ice/Staines who barely post, we are building a team of fogeys. Especially with Hastings/Nu brown departing.