I don't think that's it.
I think some people are very upset with Luke Brooks and are thus upset that Tigers would consider letting Hastings go rather than Brooks. It's an anti-Brooks thing rather than a pro-Hastings thing.
Anyone who does think Hastings is a good halfback - well Brooks only had #7 on his back 7 times in 2022 and Hastings had it 11 times. So Hastings was our primary halfback the first year we ever won the wooden spoon. That's not to say Hastings can't be a good half in the future, it is to say we played him there and we were terrible.
Therefore the idea of someone suggesting that Newcastle are proving us to be amateurs - I find that laughable. The Knights who are allegedly desperate to get their mitts on either of the two preferred halfbacks of the wooden spooners (doesn't matter which one). Only Newcastle fans could possibly be happy with that, to pitch so low.
Personally I am not fussed if either Hastings or Brooks are let go. We came last in 2022 - it can only be a rebuild in 2023. If Sheens has his mind made up about certain players, so be it.
Personally I also believe Sheens sees Hastings as a ball-playing lock (this has been reported in the media enough) and I am guessing Hastings is not on board with that, that Hastings sees himself as a halfback. I think Hastings was swarmed too often in 2022 once oppositions realised how often he touched the footy in the halves, but Brooks still did most of the kicking, so it was all very predictable.
Bugger-all assists too: Hastings 7 try assists, 4 LB assists in 16 appearances. 0 tries, 10 goals. Brooks was 10 try assists, 12 LB assists, 2 tries, 13 goals in 17 appearances. So if Brooks is abject rubbish, Hastings' measurable output was arguably worse in 2022.
So I still think it's a long-term anti-Brooks thing.
