0:24 Thomas Leuluai and Jackson Hastings have combined well this year, including in the build-up to Hastings’ try against St Helens
Even before being united at Wigan, Hastings and Lam had a long-standing connection going back to the former playing for Sydney Roosters U20s alongside the latter’s son Lachlan as a teenager.
On the field as well, Hastings has forged a useful partnership in the halves with Thomas Leuluai which he believes complements their respective styles of play.
Leuluai’s willingness to do the unglamorous work has allowed both Hastings and Man of Steel nominee Bevan French to play with the freedom to express themselves, and he hopes the 35-year-old will decide to sign a new contract.
“He’s made my job so much easier,” Hastings said. “Having that voice everyone listens to, you don’t have to do as much talking.
“If you notice the way we play, he plays a lot of the on-ball stuff like the general and I get to run around both sides of the field with Bevan.
“I suppose we get all the raps for the tries and assists and fancy plays, but without Tommy none of that happens.
“I’ve learnt so much off him in training and I’m hoping he does play on…and helps us be successful against next year.”
Of a more immediate concern though is Thursday night’s play-off semi-final against Hull FC, which is live on Sky Sports.
Strangely enough, it was current club Wigan who Hastings and his then-Salford team-mates defeated at this stage to reach last year’s Grand Final, where they ultimately fell short against St Helens.
Hastings still looks back fondly on that run with the Red Devils, but the sting of the defeat to Saints – who the Warriors could face at the KCOM Stadium in this year’s Grand Final a week on Friday – and wanting to help his current club go one better than 2019 are huge motivators for him.
“It was one of the best achievements I’ve had in rugby league so far, taking that club to Old Trafford, and playing in front of the fans was great,” Hastings said.
“But we lost, so there is definitely a burning desire to go back there and win, and then obviously this club didn’t make it last year and got knocked out one before so there is the burning desire for this group to not only get there but win it.
“A few of us were lucky to go on to the big dance and lose, but as a club now I’m sitting here as a Wigan player and we fell one short as a group last year so there is added motivation with that.”
Sourse: skysports.com
