‘Appreciate you’: Tigers star’s touching Madge tribute as shock contender receives big backing

Jackson Hastings has paid tribute to Michael Maguire after the premiership winner was sacked by the Wests Tigers on Tuesday.

Maguire handed Hastings an NRL lifeline after the 26-year-old spent three-and-a-half years in the Super League with the Salford Red Devils and the Wigan Warriors.

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Hastings was the first player from the joint venture to thank Maguire for his efforts.

“Appreciate you coach, and everything you’ve done for myself and my family,” Hastings wrote.

“Wish you nothing but happiness and success in your future endeavours.”

Such was the bond between Maguire and Hastings that the star half was willing to play under the 48-year-old for the remainder of his playing days, which he hoped was at the Tigers.

“I’d love to play for Madge for the rest of my career,” Hastings told The Daily Telegraphin May.

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“Ideally that would be at Tigers with him coaching here for a number of years and me playing under him.

“He’s taught me a lot both on and off the field. He holds a special place in my heart, so does this club.

“And Madge is one of those people and this club is one of those organisations. I’ll definitely do the right thing by the club, I’ll listen to offers. It would be ideal to stay here and build combinations.”

But with Maguire now out the door, the Tigers could face a mass exodus.

According to Phil Gould, the club could lose “at least” six players who loved playing under the 48-year-old, with a whopping 12 players – including Hastings – set to hit the open market on November 1.

“There are plenty of players who want to play for him, because if they sack the coach, I’m telling you, there’s about half a dozen ready to walk with him,” Gould told 100% Footy on Monday.

“It’s going to be a catastrophe. They are misreading the room.”

Veteran NRL journalist Danny Weidler sought clarification: “So you’re saying that if Madge goes, six players could go and join another club?”

Gould replied: “At least.”

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However, club chairman Lee Hagipantelis moved quickly to quash any such talk of players following Maguire out the exit door.

“I don’t accept that at all. These players are contracted to the club and that is not my impression or understanding whatsoever,” Hagipantelis told Fox Sports on Tuesday.

“I don’t know where that information comes from but from our perspective there’s nothing to indicate that’s the case.

“I’m appreciative of other people who’ve been in the game a lot longer than I have and are far more qualified than I am but that information is not any concern for this club.”

A new coaching appointment could be what is needed to sway a number of those players to stay and according to Wide World of Sports, a man who was an NRL coach as recently as last year is firmly in the mix.

WWOS reports that there is growing support in favour of former Cronulla Sharks coach John Morris.

Morris, who played 72 games for the Tigers, is an assistant to Jason Demetriou at the South Sydney Rabbitohs but has not been in the role for long.

Having led the Sharks to consecutive finals appearances in his first two seasons as coach, Morris could be the man to end the Tigers’ finals drought which extends back to 2011.

Despite the positive noises surrounding Morris’ candidacy, WWOS claims that Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo remains the first choice for the role.