Jackson Hastings’ 2019 season was topped off perfectly by being crowned as the Super League’s ‘Man of Steel’, as well as leading the Salford Red Devils to the Super League Grand Final.
However, after being called up to the Great Britain squad for their international tour, Hastings believes that he still has plenty of his game to improve on.
The Red Devils stand-off spoke to the Press Association about the opportunity he has been given. “I’m really happy to just be here amongst the group,” Hastings said.
“I’m still young and I’m willing to learn.”
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The call-up doesn’t guarantee him a spot on the team though because Gareth Widdop, Blake Austin, George Williams, Jonny Lomax and Jake Connor are all also competing for just two half-back positions.
Jackson Hastings still wants to make the most out of the opportunity, despite the competitive nature of the team, and believes that training with the other players will bring out the best in him. “To be learning off blokes like Gareth, Jonny, Blake, George, even Jake, is going to be good, we’re going to be able to pick each other’s brains.”
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The Salford star already has a long history with Great Britain’s coach Wayne Barrett and recalled a time when they spoke seven years ago when Hastings was just 16.
“I’ve known of Wayne my whole life,” Hastings said. “I think I spoke to him once when I was about 16 at the Dragons and he was head coach.
“He’s the greatest coach of all time and to get a chance to sit back and watch the way he goes about it and obviously learn off him is going to be a huge honour.”
Jackson and the team are already in the Southern Hemisphere preparing for their first match against Tonga on Sunday.
They will also face off against New Zealand twice and Papa New Guinea once during their tour.
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