That's if an NRL club wants you.

By better system in place are you referring to an u21s or reserve competition?

I don't know to be honest. I get that money is tight but I definitely think we need some way of not having to make a call on a player at 19 years old. Look at Peacock, the most decorated player in the SL era, and he only made his SL debut at 22. In today's system he would probably have been let go years before that and ended up part time or amateur. Liam Byrne isn't the same calibre but I happen to know a minor miscommunication very nearly saw him never get a chance to go pro.

Hastings has given an interview to the Aussie Telegraph essentially saying he wants an NRL return ASAP. Comes as no surprise mind and I’m certainly not criticising him. He’s made no secret of that since he’s been in SL and in all honesty I find that quite refreshing that he’s so honest about it.

Won’t do him any favours with the critics though. I can just about see the lighting of the torches and raising of the pitch forks from my house.

We talking for 2021 or 2022?

I don’t think anyone expects him to be here come 2022, so if it’s for then, I have absolutely no issues with it and I doubt anybody will. If he’s anchoring for a move straight away then people will be less understanding but ultimately it’s a weird and challenging world we’re living in and if he’d like to be back at home then who are we to question him. It would be awful timing mind.

It doesn’t really say but reading it, it’s a come get me plea for 2022.

I’ve no problem with that.

Getting his future sorted now means we can get on with finding a replacement or look at allocating the cap in other areas.

The key to that plan though also probably relies on Bevan French letting us know where he stands too in relation to 22.

If he goes too we probably need a half with Field replacing French at 1 if he stays we can look to strengthen elsewhere.

The second an NRL club wants him he will go. No issue with that as long as his focus while he's a Wigan player is on being a Wigan player.

Ben Barba for example went from a 10/10 to a 6/10 at best once he signed.

I don't see a problem.

If Hastings goes at the end of this season he will have played for three and a half seasons in the U.K. That's more than most Aussie players tend to stay.

Hastings will do his final year in SL this year and hopefully win a trophy that’s eluded him so far.

Hopefully George Williams has had enough of down there and fancies a return to replace him.

1.) Field

6.) Williams
7.) Smith

2022.

No issue with the interview or his NRL ambitions - I don't think its unreasonable though to think that he and Bevan really should be in Wigan now. Outside of those players waiting for Visa approval (e.g. Dean Whare at Catalans), I think you'd struggle to find another SL overseas player who is still back home at this point.

They are flying back tomorrow.

That will give the 3 weeks with the team before the leigh game.

Both have been working on fitness in Aus. Hastings has posted a video of him working with a PT.

Three weeks with a spine that should be the exact same as last year, at least to start the year

. After getting to spend a few more weeks with their loved ones before a long season, their minds should be refreshed.

No problem with them taking the extra time.