Read the text that made Knights star Jackson Hastings think he was a teammate with Tigers young gun Tommy Talau before the illusion was shattered in a spiteful postgame showdown that had to be broken up by the security guards.
- Tigers star Tommy Talau is furious with Jackson Hastings
- Tensions nearly boiled over Sunday at Leichhardt Oval
- Followed up Hastings by breaking Talau’s nose in the first half
- Hastings went to apologize, Tigres center pushed him
As Tommy Talau’s former Wests Tigers teammate, Jackson Hastings was stunned by the rancor scenes moments after Sunday’s full-time at Leichhardt Oval.
The Knights running back, who had just led his team to a streaky 14-12 victory, headed straight for center after accidentally breaking his nose on a high shot late in the first half during the ferocious clash.
Hastings, 27, thought the pair were on good terms — that is, after he sent Talau a text during pre-season testing that read: “Good on you mate, you did bad last year.” , welcome back to the NRL, this is where you belong.’
It followed Talau being sidelined with an ACL injury for all of last season.
Rather than be greeted with a handshake and potentially a hug at the final whistle, Talau, who missed his HIA after Hastings’ strike and was unable to return to the field, was furious.
As Tommy Talau’s former Wests Tigers teammate, Jackson Hastings was mystified by the angry scenes moments after Sunday’s full-time at Leichhardt Oval.
Hastings broke Talau’s nose in a covered tackle late in the first half, and the Tigers’ young gun was boiling.
Talau did not accept Hastings’ apology, and when Tigers mainstay David Klemmer got involved, the situation could have easily escalated.
Hastings felt he and Talau were on good terms after he sent the rising star a “welcome back” message as the Tigers center returned from injury in preseason tryouts following an ACL injury. .
In jaw-dropping scenes, the 22-year-old shoved official Hastings and when his Tigers teammate David Klemmer exchanged some colorful words with the playmaker, the situation threatened to escalate.
News Corp journalist Phil Rothfield, who broke the text on Foxtel’s NRL360, called Talau’s fictional spit “appalling.”
“There was absolutely no intent in that tackle, it was a mishap gone wrong,” he said.
“It was appalling sportsmanship…what happens on the field, stays on the field.”
Rothfield later added that former NSW prop Klemmer was “so out of order to get involved” and that the veteran should focus on his own game after a poor display for his new club.
NRL360 co-host Braith Anasta suggested there was possibly bad blood between Hastings and Talau after the “unusual” explosion.
A fierce standout competitor, Hastings began his NRL career with the Roosters in 2014 before moving on to the Sea Eagles.
A reported break with captain Daly Cherry-Evans saw the winger leave the club in 2018, before reviving his English Super League career with Salford and Wigan.
He returned to the NRL with the Tigers in 2022 before being released by Tim Sheens allowing Hastings to join the Knights.