Candid Hastings reveals 'worst thing' about Manly exile
An honest Jackson Hastings has revealed the “worst thing” about his career-defining exile from Manly and feud with Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.
Hastings moved to the UK after being banished to reserve grade by Manly in April for an infamous hotel room clash with Cherry-Evans.
Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett pointed to long-running problems with Hastings at the time.
Hastings was among a number of Manly stars who broke curfew to go out partying after the Sae Eagles demoralising loss to the Gold Coast Titans.
It was reported Hastings was involved in a heated altercation with Cherry-Evans afterwards, with the conflict thought to be the driving factor behind his inglorious exit from the Sea Eagles.
However, in an interview with former Broncos star Denan Kemp on The Locker Room podcast, Hastings said he and the Manly skipper were able to move on from the incident the next day.
“We got beat and we weren’t allowed to go out,” he said.
“To be honest, the worst thing we did was break curfew and it’s something that I look back on and it’s just so stupid.
“We wouldn’t even be sitting here talking about it if I just didn’t break curfew. It just pisses me off that I made such a dumb decision.
“Looking back, I just can’t believe that I broke curfew and that’s what s***s me the most.
“It’s true what they say, decisions make your career and I made a f***ing stupid one.”
Hastings admits there was an “incident” involving himself and Cherry-Evans but denies a fight broke out between the pair.
“We went out to all hours of the morning and then the incident took place,” he said.
“I knew I’d f***ed up the morning of. I knew the decision that I’d made was terrible.
“There was no fight. What’s a fight? A fight is when two people punch the s*** out of each other. That never happened.
“The next day we sat down and spoke about it and we got on with it.
“I’m not angry at him. I’m not angry at anyone. I’m angry at myself for making such a s*** decision.”
Hastings admits he has unfinished business in the NRL but is focused on playing for Salford in the UK Super League in 2019.
With agencies
