Hastings backed by former coach, RLPA

The RLPA is monitoring Jackson Hastings' impending exit from Manly as his former coach Trent Robinson urged the exiled Sea Eagle to improve his behaviour in a team environment and salvage his NRL career.

Hastings will not be considered for Manly's first-grade squad after two clashes with skipper Daly Cherry-Evans and what coach Trent Barrett described as "ongoing concerns" around his behaviour since arriving from the Roosters in 2017.

The 22-year-old playmaker has been named for feeder side Blacktown this weekend as his manager Sam Ayoub canvasses the NRL and Super League clubs over interest in his talented, but divisive, client.

A move to England looms as the most likely option given Hastings's reputation has been hurt by fall-outs with his Roosters and Manly colleagues.

The players' association has been consulted previously on Hastings's behaviour at Manly, and on Wednesday afternoon declared it would stand by the young half amid concerns around his welfare.

"The RLPA has been in contact with Hastings and other relevant parties following the recent reports relating to internal issues and his ongoing future at the club," an RLPA statement said.

"The RLPA will continue to work through a process privately with Hastings, his management and Sea Eagles officials to ensure he is provided the appropriate assistance, wellbeing support and protection as a contracted player at the club."

Hastings joined Manly after similar issues at the Roosters under Robinson, admitting last year that he hadn't shown senior players the respect they deserved when he first arrived at Bondi.

The Tricolours had big plans for the son of club great Kevin Hastings, letting premiership-winning half James Maloney go to Cronulla with Hastings pencilled in as a long-term pivot.

Robinson conceded Hastings had rubbed his players the wrong way, having also dropped him to the Intrust Super Premiership at the end of his Roosters stint.

But the Roosters mentor refused to condemn the former Dragons junior, who often goes out of his way to meet fans and give away tickets to NRL games.

"He obviously had some issues here at different times," Robinson said.

"The only thing I'd say is it's sometimes easier to forgive someone when they do commit a crime, they say sorry and then they come back.

"Jackson's not a bad guy, he doesn't do anything wrong. It's just obvious he needs to work on the team environment.

"He's not going to misbehave, he never has. So for us to go out there and treat him that way, it's bad. He just needs to work better in a team environment, that's it."