Jackson Hastings is hoping to end his family's feud with the Roosters after making the transition from Bondi to Brookvale.
Hastings was a man on the outer during his final year at the tri-colours. The promising half, a staple in junior representative sides, was languishing in the NSW Cup for feeder side Wyong Roos after falling out of favour. Ultimately, the 21-year-old was released from the final year of his contract to join Manly.
His departure comes on the back of a turbulent relationship between the club and his father, Kevin "Horrie'' Hastings. There have been strained relations between the elder Hastings and the Roosters since his playing days, culminating in a social media savaging of the tri-colours over his son's demotion in 2016.
While Jackson Hastings bears no ill will to the Roosters, he would like to see the issues between his family and former club resolved once and for all.
"I don't think it was ever too good, to be honest," Hastings said. "I didn't really know too much about it, but I don't think it's too good – it's definitely not too good now.
"It's gone from bad to terrible. Honestly, it would be good if they could fix up what happened there and shake hands and get on with it. That's up to them. I sort of stay clear of that – I wore the brunt of it, but I stayed clear of that and focused on being me."
Having played the last of his football at the Roosters in reserve grade, there is no guarantee anything will immediately change at his new club. Hastings, who has been hampered by an ankle problem, is hoping to force his way onto the Manly bench for their season opener against Parramatta. However, the focus will undoubtedly be greatest when he comes up against the Roosters.
"I do know when I'm playing them, a lot of people have told me it's going to be round five at Allianz," Hastings said. "It's not like I've marked the date or anything. I'd be happy to get into the side for round one let alone round five, I'm not guaranteed anything here. There's no point marking off games.
"It's just another game, it honestly is. It's the first time I'm versing them, there's going to be a lot of hype around it if I'm playing. But for me, honestly, it's just another game. They're a great team, they're in for a massive year the Roosters, it would be good to watch them go."
Hastings concedes he "didn't respect the game" enough after rising into the first-grade ranks as a teenager.
"That period with the Roosters where it went a bit sour, that was probably the hardest thing I've had to deal with in terms of footy," he said. "In life in general, I've gone through some tough things but that was definitely hard to deal with.
"It made me think about the game a lot more, respect the game a lot more than I had in the past. It's not all sunshine and rainbows, there's some tough stuff that happens. It's just one hiccup in the road to hopefully a long career.
"I don't know if I took it for granted, I probably didn't respect it enough, the game. Because I came in so early, when I was 18, and playing some big games I sort of just thought it was all going to happen."
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