Politixia
There was drama after fulltime at Leichhardt Oval as Jackson Hastings was involved in a fiery post-game exchange with former teammate Tommy Talau and new Tigers recruit David Klemmer.
Hastings, facing his old club for the first time since making the move to Newcastle, celebrated a triumphant return as the brave Knights held on for a dramatic 14-12 win on Sunday.
But there was drama earlier in the contest when Hastings collected Talau across the head in the build-up to Asu Kepaoa’s try for the home side.
Hastings was captured approaching Talau, who had broken his nose and failed his H.I.A test, after the game to apologise.
But the Tigers centre seemingly wanted none of him and was backed up by Klemmer.
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Speaking after the incident, Hastings said he had gone to apologise to Talau but that the Tigers centre was “still angry”.
“I just tried to do the right thing at the end of the game by going up to say sorry, in the heat of the battle he was still angry, which I fully appreciate,” Hastings said, per The Sydney Morning Herald.
“No one wants to get hit in the head and they ruled him out for the game too, so I am remorseful, there was no intent. I can see why he would be frustrated.
“I had no issue with Tommy’s reaction. I would be pretty filthy myself.”
Hastings also defended Klemmer’s involvement in the incident, saying: “He is renowned for being a great teammate and he stuck up for his teammate”.
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“You can see Tommy Talau goes up to Jackson Hastings after the interview he just had with us, pushes him in the chest,” Braith Anasta said in Fox League’s coverage of Sunday’s action.
“Klemmer comes up afterwards. The Tigers not too happy with Jackson at all. Not sure if that was warranted or called for. Klemmer giving him an absolute serve. Tensions are high.”
“You don’t see that often, shirt-fronting someone after the game” added Greg Alexander.
Hastings addressed the Talau high shot before the exchange with his former teammate while speaking to Fox League in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s game.
“I honestly didn’t think I got him but he’s bleeding so obviously I did, I’m really sorry to Tommy and I’ll say sorry to him after this, it was a pure accident, there was no malice in it,” Hastings said.
“He came at me and was well within his rights after getting hit like that. So full apologies to Tommy, it was an accident and I’m just glad to get the win and try to stop a try.”
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Hastings’ Knights teammate Tyson Frizell said he saw the incident as it unfolded after the game.
“I think he [Talau] was just upset,” Frizell said.
“I’m not sure if there was much in the tackle or if there was much that Jackson could have avoided. He got a bit upset and didn’t want a bar of it. All good.”
Tigers coach Tim Sheens took issue with Hastings’ shot as well as that from Jacob Saifiti on Jake Simpkin, which resulted in the Knights front rower being sent off.
“The couple of boys I am going to lose for next week they are not real happy about it and neither am I,” Sheens said.
“Tommy has a broken nose so it (Hastings hit) was high. And he failed his HIA, so that means we will lose him next week.
“So do you think I’m happy? No.
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“The one on Jake was a bad one. He is not well, so we will lose him next week as well. Maybe even a couple of weeks.
“It was a fairly heavy knock. It deserved a send-off and it got one. That doesn’t help us next week when we lose the kid.”
Sheens was asked about Hastings’ exchange with Talau and Klemmer but was not aware of it, as was the case for Tigers skipper Apisai Koroisau.
“No I don’t know what you are talking about,” Sheens said.
“OK, I don’t know I will have to ask about that one.”
“No this is the first I am hearing of it,” added Koroisau.
