Jackson Hastings & Jayden Nikorima

[Mickie Lane]

What will happen at the Roosters with these two over the off season?

It's hard to know.
Jackson Hastings, if I was to believe what I have read on here that Jacko is on the outer with Friend & Robbo then I would think he will be released but if his contract is worth more than what any other club wants to pay or contribute towards then the Roosters will have no choice but to honour his contract even if it means he plays for Wyong. If he is on the outer Im surprised the Dragons havn't made a play for him especially since they need a halfback even though from what I heard from the commentators on grand final day the Dragons look like they are going to go with Drew Hutchinson. Parra need a halfback & if the Dogs release Licha & move Mbye to hooker they will also need a halfback. Pearce Keary & Watson seem to be ahead of him in the pecking order if you read into what Robbo said after they bought Keary.
When I think about him playing in 2015 when Pearce was injured I actually thought he played pretty good at halfback with Maloney at 5/8 but in 2016 when he suddenly was thrust into the team organiser role with a rookie 5/8 then a back rower playing 5/8 & the team not firing he seemed to then be on the outta which probably wasn’t fair but his attitude may have been the thing that put him on the outta.
I personally would like to see him stay & get a run at halfback with Pearce at 5/8 & see how he go’s but I think he will be realeased.

Jayden Nikorima, people with better footy knowledge than me feel he is a talent but I don’t. I think he is too small to play FG week in week out & especially in the front line, Im not sure what his best position is but I read that he feels his best position is coming off the bench as an impact player but that position is going to go to Watson from what I am lead to believe. He has another 2 years to run on his contract & he is only young so I suppose he could play NYC or for Wyong next year but I don’t know what the future holds for him. If they release Hastings & then Pearce, Keary or Watson get injured is he next in line?
If it was up to me I would release him & keep Hastings but I think the Roosters will release Hastings & persist with Nikorima.

[milanja]

The biggest problem these days is no patience from the club,the player and the fans, and not having a recognised reserve grade competition. Young players play a game or 2 of firsts, and then feel that under 20s is beneath them, fans expect the same performance from under 20s in firsts, if not, they are crucified. Players families, player manangers also think they are too good, and start shopping them around to other clubs.

I would like to see both players in 3 yrs time, but i don't feel either will be happy hanging around in reserves for too long.

The nrl is kidding themselves if expansion is on the cards and they think they can field two extra teams without diluting the comp with weaker teams all round.

[eddie]

If it was up to me I would release him & keep Hastings but I think the Roosters will release Hastings & persist with Nikorima.

2nd time today I've agreed with you.
Are we in the twilight zone or something?

I like Nikorima but think Watson's emergence makes him superfluous . Hastings could really benefit from a year at Wyong, and we do need a backup in case our halfback gets injured or gets more feelings for canines.

[Guest]

Theyre both shit

[eddie]

The biggest problem these days is no patience from the club,the player and the fans, and not having a recognised reserve grade competition. Young players play a game or 2 of firsts, and then feel that under 20s is beneath them, fans expect the same performance from under 20s in firsts, if not, they are crucified. Players families, player manangers also think they are too good, and start shopping them around to other clubs.

I would like to see both players in 3 yrs time, but i don't feel either will be happy hanging around in reserves for too long.

Top point, agree 100%.
More money should be directed to establish a better reserve grade or the game as a whole will suffer in the long run.
Player managers are also a blight on the game.

[John Corey]

What will happen at the Roosters with these two over the off season?

It's hard to know.
Jackson Hastings, if I was to believe what I have read on here that Jacko is on the outer with Friend & Robbo then I would think he will be released but if his contract is worth more than what any other club wants to pay or contribute towards then the Roosters will have no choice but to honour his contract even if it means he plays for Wyong. If he is on the outer Im surprised the Dragons havn't made a play for him especially since they need a halfback even though from what I heard from the commentators on grand final day the Dragons look like they are going to go with Drew Hutchinson. Parra need a halfback & if the Dogs release Licha & move Mbye to hooker they will also need a halfback. Pearce Keary & Watson seem to be ahead of him in the pecking order if you read into what Robbo said after they bought Keary.
When I think about him playing in 2015 when Pearce was injured I actually thought he played pretty good at halfback with Maloney at 5/8 but in 2016 when he suddenly was thrust into the team organiser role with a rookie 5/8 then a back rower playing 5/8 & the team not firing he seemed to then be on the outta which probably wasn’t fair but his attitude may have been the thing that put him on the outta.
I personally would like to see him stay & get a run at halfback with Pearce at 5/8 & see how he go’s but I think he will be realeased.

Jayden Nikorima, people with better footy knowledge than me feel he is a talent but I don’t. I think he is too small to play FG week in week out & especially in the front line, Im not sure what his best position is but I read that he feels his best position is coming off the bench as an impact player but that position is going to go to Watson from what I am lead to believe. He has another 2 years to run on his contract & he is only young so I suppose he could play NYC or for Wyong next year but I don’t know what the future holds for him. If they release Hastings & then Pearce, Keary or Watson get injured is he next in line?
If it was up to me I would release him & keep Hastings but I think the Roosters will release Hastings & persist with Nikorima.

I don't think Pearce and Hastings suit each other in the halves. Their games are too alike. You have two 7s playing together.

Which is why Hastings and Maloney played well together last yr. Totally different players with Maloney preferring to run and leave the organisation to Hastings.

[Johnny Tobin]

I hope Jackson will find another club in the off season. I think he will.

[roosterproud]

hastings wont fit in if jake still hates him. you cant fix a rift like that. we have tyler cornish, connor watson, ryan matterson and jesse marschke as back up halves.

[Pass the Ball]

Hastings is damaged goods.

Wherever he plays, Easts will be picking up most of the tab for another couple of years...

Choosing Hastings over Maloney may have hurt this year on the field but it will continue to hurt our salary cap for another two years....

[horrie hastings]

Hastings is damaged goods.

Wherever he plays, Easts will be picking up most of the tab for another couple of years...

Choosing Hastings over Maloney may have hurt this year on the field but it will continue to hurt our salary cap for another two years....

Jackson is only under contract for 2017 so I will be only one year if he goes to another club.

[Horry]

Hastings is damaged goods.

Wherever he plays, Easts will be picking up most of the tab for another couple of years...

Choosing Hastings over Maloney may have hurt this year on the field but it will continue to hurt our salary cap for another two years....

PTB Hasting only signed till the end of next year.

[Parkway_Drive]

Theyre both shit

Welcome.back BAW. I was surprised it took you so long to come back but your posts give you away.

[ism22]

I reckon it's arguable that our experiment worked.

We brought in a heap of good U20's players (Watson, Nikorima and Hastings) then gave them all a trial by fire.

Watson Survived... but then we signed Keary? And then we signed Paul Carter (who is arguably a utility rather than a back rower).

This pre-season will again be interesting. Surely Keary will get the nod, but I think others will be pushing for a spot in the team.

[Intercept]

2nd time today I've agreed with you.
Are we in the twilight zone or something?

I like Nikorima but think Watson's emergence makes him superfluous . Hastings could really benefit from a year at Wyong, and we do need a backup in case our halfback gets injured or gets more feelings for canines.

Yeah, spot on in my opinion. I don't know where it gained currency to say that Hastings is sh*t and only got a contract because of his name. Sure, he didn't perform this year but there was plenty going on at Easts at the time. And if the captain wouldn't give him the ball did he really get a fair go? Now, he may be a d*ckhead, I wouldn't know because I have never met him, but he certainly can play football. I expect that he will become one of the top halves in the game in the next 3-4 years. He will play a lot of first grade in his career. Interestingly, he may never play rep footy because young Cleary seems destined for stardom but give him time and he will mature into a classy halfback.

[bondi paul]

I am not a fan of Pygmy Nikorima - he was given a opportunity yet not only did he not impress me in the top grade but more so his gallivanting overseas during the final series - shows no real class and gratitude to the club especially when the u/20s were playing in the semis then GF. It's this qld attitude at Easts that pisses me off. the less freeloading qld the better off we are - Jake an exception.