In a surprising development, Jackson Hastings is being linked with a potential move to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in a deal that could see him swap clubs with Lachlan Ilias of the Newcastle Knights. The rumored swap comes as both clubs look to address uncertainties surrounding their respective halves combinations ahead of the 2025 NRL season.
Hastings, currently playing for the Newcastle Knights, has fallen out of favor with head coach Adam O’Brien and the coaching staff after a difficult 2024 season. Despite earning a significant contract worth approximately $800,000 per year, Hastings was dropped multiple times from the first-grade squad and ended the season playing in reserve grade. The 28-year-old halfback, who also spent much of 2023 recovering from injury, returned for the Knights’ semi-final campaign only to see the team knocked out. His chances for a return to the top squad seem slim, particularly with the Knights consistently rotating through halves options during the 2024 season.
With Hastings looking for a fresh start, the Rabbitohs could offer him a lifeline. Wayne Bennett, the incoming head coach for South Sydney, is reportedly interested in securing Hastings as part of his plan to revive the Rabbitohs. Bennett, who will take over from the sacked Jason Demetriou and interim coach Ben Hornby, is known for his ability to bring out the best in players, and Hastings may be the next to benefit from the veteran coach’s guidance.
South Sydney’s halfback situation has been a point of concern, and the arrival of Hastings could shake things up. Cody Walker and Jack Wighton ended the 2024 season as the Rabbitohs’ starting halves combination, but with the addition of Lewis Dodd and now the potential signing of Hastings, Bennett may be planning to rethink his halves configuration for 2025. If Hastings joins the Rabbitohs, he could compete for a starting role or potentially be used as a utility player, offering depth across the halves, hooker, and lock positions. The Rabbitohs are in need of versatility, especially after losing veteran hooker Damien Cook to the St George Illawarra Dragons.
As for Ilias, the young halfback could find himself at Newcastle as part of the player swap deal. Ilias, who was told earlier in the year that he could explore other options, suffered a broken leg while playing in reserve grade. If the swap goes through, Ilias would join a Newcastle side that also faced challenges with their halves combination in 2024, rotating between Hastings, Tyson Gamble, Jack Cogger, and Phoenix Crossland.
With both Hastings and Ilias seeking fresh starts, the rumored player swap deal could benefit both clubs as they look to solidify their rosters ahead of the upcoming season. Fans will be eagerly awaiting confirmation of the deal, which could shape the direction of both teams in 2025.