What has Jackson Hastings done to deserve media mobbing?

March 20, 2023 1:48 pm.by Wayne Heming

What’s with the media’s obsession with Newcastle Knights halfback Jackson Hastings?

It’s almost like the son of former Roosters champion Kevin Hastings is a marked man, with everything he does closely monitored by certain sections of the press.

Two weeks ago Hastings was painted out to be the bad guy after he attempted to apologise to young Wests Tigers player Tommy Talau for breaking his nose in a high tackle during an NRL clash.

Hastings was crucified for his actions after an upset Talau pushed him away and exchanged words.

Talau’s Tigers teammate David Klemmer made the incident look a lot worse than it was when he joined the heated discussion and security intervened.

Hastings was widely savaged by commentators and condemned publicly, especially on social media.

Talau has since put his hand up and admitted he was wrong to react so aggressively when Hastings was simply trying to say sorry.

Now Hastings has been portrayed by the same media outlet as a poor sport for the way he congratulated rival players after Newcastle’s tough 36-20 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.

Fox Sports showed footage of a clearly disappointed and dejected Hastings shaking hands with Dolphin players without looking them in the eyes.

He shook every player’s hand, he didn’t refuse to shake hands and he didn’t snub them.

Sure, he didn’t smile or engage in any post-game chat, but does that make him a poor sport?

It just means the loss really hurt.

To point out that Dolphins halfback Sean O’Sullivan attempted to have a conversation with Hastings but he ignored him and just kept walking was ordinary.

So what?

Hastings was filthy with himself and with losing.

He wasn’t in the mood for a chat.

To use a 24-second video grab of a player who is clearly despondent after a hard loss and make out he was being a bad sport is poor form in itself.

It’s almost like they deliberately stalked him with the camera, hoping they would get another headline story like last week.

Hastings did the right thing by approaching Talau to apologise, but maybe not at the right time.

Nothing to see here.

This guy has been through a few clubs – Manly, Sydney Roosters, Wests Tigers, and now Newcastle.

Sure, he is a little different, but he is passionate about the way he plays, which is why he was so disappointed after yesterday’s loss.