‘Not again’: Hastings’ horror injury toll and recovery bid

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Jackson Hastings lost feeling in his right foot as he writhed in agony on Sunday, but the Knights No.7 is refusing to get scans on his latest ankle injury in the hope of pushing through for Newcastle’s trip to New Zealand.

Hastings raced the clock to play in Newcastle’s thrilling 30-28 extra-time win over Canberra, only to go down before half-time when his ankles were clipped in a tackle by Trey Mooney.

The star halfback had no issue with the tackle and is hoping round-the-clock rehab will keep an unlikely bid to face the Warriors on Saturday alive.

Hastings has had a rotten run with the fractured tibia and completely ruptured syndesmosis he suffered in a hip-drop tackle by Pat Carrigan last year.

He has previously told Newcastle media that the impact of the injury is “something I’m going to have to deal with for the rest of my life.”

The 27-year-old hinted as much again after the Knights’ latest triumph and said he will push once more to take his place with Newcastle’s season on the line in Auckland.

Jackson Hastings watches on as Newcastle’s season stays alive.Credit: Getty

“I just thought to myself ‘not again’,” Hastings said of his latest blow.

“It was a weird feeling – I couldn’t feel it. It just wasn’t working from where I got whacked down, so I was praying I just hit a nerve.

“I’m hoping it’s not an extension of what I’ve already done. I’m not too sure, but I’m not going to scan it. I’m just going to see how I feel and try to get out there next week.

“I’m not going to compromise the team. If I can’t go out there and do my job, and I can’t move, there’s no way I’ll play, but if I can, I’ll put my hand up and I’ll have a go.”

Should Hastings be passed in, back-up half Adam Clune will partner Tyson Gamble against the Warriors. The home side has its own playmaker problems, with Shaun Johnson fighting to return from a calf strain.

Hastings said he took part in every Knights training session leading into the Raiders game and that the club’s medical staff “wouldn’t put me out there if I was at any risk”.

He battled his way back through pre-season training after being unable to run for the best part of five months and had the issue exacerbated by a hip-drop tackle by Canterbury’s Jacob Preston in round 24.

“I’ve been icing my leg about five to six hours a day,” Hastings said of his recovery.

“It’s been crazy just to get back from the hip-drop injury and the mental toll that took on me. I’m so proud of this group, watching them win and then going home and feeling so deflated because you’re not a part of it.

“You feel a little bit left out, but that’s part of footy. You’ll hear a bit more about it towards the end of the year – there’s a bit of stuff going on with it. I’ve made no secret that my leg’s hampered me through the whole pre-season, into the early rounds and then I copped the hip-drop, which didn’t help. I won’t give it away right now but there’s a bit going on.”

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