Personally, I found Hastings' so-called love affair with Salford one of the least convincing aspects of the entire JH show while he was over here in the UK. At times, it verged on being a total pantomime.

For me, he's a professional contrarian, who seems to delight in winding people up. Whatever vicarious pleasure this gives him, it nearly always seems to have an impact on the rest of the team. The only reason this didn't happen at Salford was because he was their biggest fish in quite a while and basically allowed to rule the roost. I've no doubt that given enough time, he'd have fallen out with people there as well.

So JH has clashed with a young back who’s already having a hard time in a team that’s not doing well? Hmmm.

Still early but pretty much worked out as anticipated with Pryce in the NRL. I'm sure most Wigan fans suspected KPP was ready to go over there and make an almost immediate impact but Pryce had big holes in his game whilst playing in SL despite the raw talent/pace/agility etc. His defensive game and decision-making would need to radically improve for him to crack it there and although you can't argue with the preference for a warmer climate I'm not sure going this early was the best thing rugby wise.

Moving over when you're practically fresh out of the academy didn't work for Harry Rushton or Bailey Hodgson and doesn't look like its working for Lewis Murphy or Will Pryce. Dom Young is the exception but he really is a freakish athlete.

I agree with your points about Pryce, but my comment was about how Jackson Hastings gets on with team mates, particularly those he could be choosing to mentor.

All I know with Hastings is we're well rid. I'm not sure I can recall a player who has left Wigan being that unpopular, right from the fans, through to the players and coaches from what you hear. Even one of the other problem children we had at the time in Hardaker seems loved by the players, even if the fans aren't keen. Loads of his old Wigan teammates made a bee line for him at the end of the recent Leigh game and he seems to be genuinely a popular guy.

ZH is the very definition of the phrase "as thick as two short planks". 99% of his troubles have all been self inflicted.

That however doesn't mean he isn't a likeable guy to those that know him the most. Let's face it, we all probably know someone like him. Either at work, or a friend from way back or someone you played rugby with. A nice enough guy who can be funny in the right circumstances, but is just really really dense.

Sam Eseh has another hamstring problem. He's pulled up in the captains run for Cas and is out of their game this weekend and maybe next weekend. He needs further checks to see the extent of it. Lingard mentioned it cramping up, so fingers crossed it's nothing major.

Sounds like it was more of an argument, probably something that happens a fair bit but I suppose it’s all speculation.
Hastings is a strange case, he comes across as a good guy most of the time to the public and on social media, but he’s caused issues at previous clubs and although there was no major incident at Wigan he wasn’t massively liked by the other players it seems and if you believe the rumours Wests moved him on because Bateman didn’t like him so he couldn’t have been well thought of their either if they sided with someone coming in from the UK over one of their current players.

Pryce was always coming in to the season as 4th choice half, and 2nd/3rd choice full back, he’s done well in the NSW Cup games I believe and a lot of the Knights fans are calling for him to be given a shot in the NRL although I think a lot of that is down to poor performance by the current halves. I would say he’s doing fine.

I remember reading on one of the Wigan forums how Hastings was a bad influence at training and especially on Jai Field. Cannot remember the source or specifics but it just jumped out at me then.

Yet when I dared question his attitude back in 2020 I was right royally condemned and told, among other things, that it was Bullsh*t. That hasn't aged well, has it?

In fairness Hardaker until what 6 months before his contract ran out barely put a foot wrong did he, quite why he couldn't sit on his contract, say nowt and leave wigan with the fans best wishes ringing in his ears was one of life's great mysteries to me.

As for Hastings hes an odd one for sure, loves the big fish,small pond it seems to me and woe betide anyone getting in his way, not good in a team sport

He was constantly in bother….he always had been, always will be.

Lad can’t stay away from the pub and bother follows him.

It makes you appreciate the characters we now have at the club. I can’t think of a single player who worries you that they’ll go off the rails or bring trouble. It doesn’t mean it can’t happen but it would at least now be a surprise.

Agreed we have good characters but i have it on decent authority that Thompson is struggling to settle back in. I don't know whether that is just at Wigan or back in England but hopefully just teething problems. I can't name my source but i have been pretty solid in the past. He looks pretty decent out there on the pitch though so if there is more to be unlocked hopefully it will come.