Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans insists there’s nothing to see here, as he prepares to face Jackson Hastings on an NRL field for the first time since their infamous 2018 bust-up.
Cherry-Evans was fined $10,000 by the club after he and Hastings were involved in a physical altercation while on a team trip to Gladstone.
The latter subsequently left Manly and fled to the Super League, where he spent three years playing with Salford and Wigan, enhancing his game and his reputation in the process.
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Hastings is now back in the NRL, and will line up opposite Cherry-Evans when the Tigers face the Sea Eagles in Brookvale on Saturday.
“I get that it was a situation at the time that got a bit of publicity,” Cherry-Evans said when asked about their looming reunion.
“You guys (media) are doing your job, so you’re going to reignite that stuff. But I guarantee if you ask him, if you ask me, we’re all fine, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Cherry-Evans revealed he spoke to Hastings following a pre-season trial game, and insists there is no bad blood between the pair.
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Hastings, too, refuses to hold a grudge over the unfortunate way he exited the NRL in 2018.
He’s returned to Australia a different player, and has been influential in the surprise resurgence of the Tigers in recent weeks. He kicked the winning field-goal against Parramatta, and then set teammate Luke Brooks up to do the same a week later to score back-to-back victories.
The performances of Hastings have caught the eye of Cherry-Evans.
“He’s played really good footy, he’s obviously been a big part of their resurgence over the last month,” Cherry-Evans said.
“You really have to commend the way they play their style of footy. They’ve stuck to it the whole season, which is another admirable thing.
“When everyone was into them early in the season they backed their style, and I really enjoyed watching them do that because that can bring a team together.
“Jacko’s experience has really helped them, so they’re going to be tough opposition this weekend and we’re looking forward to that.
“It’s really good to see him playing good footy this year.”
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