Wayne Bennett has urged Jackson Hastings to put his stamp on a half-back spot in the run-up to the World Cup.
Super League’s Man of Steel got first nod in the halves, with Gareth Widdop, for last week’s Great Britain Test match against Tonga.
Lions coach Bennett has kept faith with the duo for Saturday’s Test against New Zealand, even though there are four other halves in the 24-man squad. And Bennett, who could continue his England coaching role into the 2021 World Cup, admits he’s already looking ahead to that competition.
Australian-born Hastings qualifies for Great Britain through his English-born grandma and says he wants to put his hand up for England as well, even though that would prevent him from ever playing for his home country.
Bennett said: “I thought he was pretty good for us without blowing everyone off the park.
“We have suffered with half back for the last 12-18 months since Luke Gale got injured. We have got to find one in the next 12 months or so before the World Cup so he has got an opportunity there and I just hope he grabs it.”
Hastings would still be able to play for Australia even though he has represented the Lions. But if he turns out for England - a tier one country like Australia - then he wouldn’t be able to wear a Kangaroos jersey.
The Lions lost 14-6 to Tonga but Bennett is confident they will play better against the Kiwis in Auckland.
He said: “We have got a game behind and I think we needed it - we have not been together for 12 months.
“There was nothing wrong with way they trained and their effort last week. We just did not nail a couple of things we should have.
“But with another week’s training, some of those things should be better tomorrow.”
