The Newcastle Knights have come up with a plan B alternative to the club’s pursuit of Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks by identifying fellow Tigers playmaker Jackson Hastings as a possible solution to the club’s playmaking dilemma.
The Knights have been locked in a negotiating stalemate with Wests Tigers over no.7 Brooks for almost 12 months but the Novocastrian club has now begun exploring the prospect of trying to lure Hastings to the Hunter instead.
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The Wests Tigers pursuit of England international John Bateman – who has made it clear he is no fan of playing alongside Hastings – combined with the Tigers insisting the playmaker is a lock rather than a half means the interest from Newcastle is genuine.
Fox Sports has learned the Knights have even gone as far as getting the Eighth Immortal and club legend Andrew Johns to personally call Hastings to pitch the reasoning on why he would be the perfect fit for the Newcastle club.
Hastings is off contract at the end of next season at Wests Tigers with the Knights interest believed to be for 2024.
But if the playmaker was to agree to terms with Newcastle for 2024 then we’ve all seen how this rodeo can unfold and it would become a matter for Wests Tigers on whether the club would be prepared to release him for next season.
The Knights and the Tigers are currently discussing a number of options in terms of players including David Klemmer, Tyson Frizell, Brooks and now Hastings.
The Tigers are interested in Klemmer and Frizell while the Knights have been chasing Brooks since the end of last season.
The Tigers interest in Frizell is contingent on what happens with England international Bateman. If they sign Bateman, they’re unlikely to still pursue the ex-NSW and Australian forward.
The Knights are busy attempting to overhaul the club’s roster after diabolical 2022 where the club finished 14th on the NRL ladder winning only six games and losing 18.
Newcastle are clearly looking to rejuvenate the club’s key position players with the pursuit of Brisbane fullback Tesi Niu an indication the club is strongly considering moving captain Kalyn Ponga into the five-eighth role next season.
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The club is still without a recognised halfback for next year with Jake Clifford failing to fire last season and now departed from the club for the UK Super League.
Newcastle then also resorted to using ex-St George Illawarra playmaker Adam Clune as the club’s primary playmaker alongside Anthony Milford last year, who has since moved on and will play for the Dolphins next season.
The Knights pursuit of Hastings makes a lot of sense and if they can land his signature as a halfback then the club could begin to take on an entirely different shape with the Knights highest paid player in Ponga also playing in the halves.
