Hastings eyes a return to his running best

On the back of making his first linebreak of the year last week, Jackson Hastings has vowed to incorporate more running into his game as the Knights seek to remain in the hunt for the finals.

The 27-year-old halfback said a combination of lingering mental demons from last year’s horror broken ankle sustained against the Broncos, coupled with the pressure of trying to free up Kalyn Ponga when he was playing five-eighth, are behind the drastic drop off in his running game.

Heading into Sunday's clash against the Bulldogs, Hastings averages 11.6 runs per game for 77.3 metres, well down on his 2022 numbers which saw him run the ball 19 times per game for 132 metres on average when playing as a half. 

But with his physical confidence returning – despite a scare last week which saw him leave the field with what he feared was a repeat ankle injury – and with Tyson Gamble now alongside him in the halves, Hastings said he plans to start taking the line on more regularly. 

"Definitely there was a fear there at the start of the year. It takes a while to come back from [that injury], getting used to and being comfortable falling into positions that were so traumatic in the back of your head," Hastings said.  

"I sat in a chair with my leg raised for eight weeks… it was a traumatic experience, the most painful thing that has ever happened to me.

Starting 'KP' in the six jersey – I probably carried a lot more load on getting the team around the park – [and] there was probably a bit of paranoia that I'd get tackled on last.

Jackson Hastings

"With Tyson coming back I have run the ball a hell of a lot more the last probably four weeks.

"It's certainly a part of my game towards the back end of the year that you will see a lot more.

"If you saw me come through the grades and play in England, my biggest strength is actually my running game."

While running numbers are down, his playmaking output is among the competition’s best so far this year, with Storm half Jahrome Hughes the only player with more than Hastings’ nine try involvements.

The England representative meanwhile said taking part in this week’s Beanie for Brain Cancer Round has taken on more meaning for him after forming a close friendship over the off-season with the initiative's driving force, Mark Hughes.

Hughes, who played 161 games for the Knights between 1997-2005, took Hastings in when he first arrived in Newcastle and employed his partner Amelia at his gym.

"We actually house sat for him the first couple of weeks we were here and become really close with him and his family," Hastings said.

"I got a great appreciation of Mark the human, as opposed to the thing you see with his gym and Beanies for Brain Cancer. It got a bit deeper than that for me, so I got to know him on a real personal level.

"He is such a fantastic person, such a fantastic role model for not only Newcastle and the NRL, but for people in general that are going through hard times.

"Playing for Newcastle in this round, it's a bit more special and you have got to do a bit more for what he has done.

"He won’t stop until he finds a cure, so we have got to keep going and make sure we find a win. That's the trade-off for us this week."

Beanies will be available online from all Lowes Australia stores, participating NSW/QLD/ACT IGA Australia stores or online at www.markhughesfoundation.com.au.