Newcastle Knights star Jackson Hastings in ‘utter shock' after mother dies
On Wednesday, a shellshocked Hastings took to social media to explain that his mother and 'best friend', Megan, had died, and he was totally devastated.
'I can't believe I'm actually sitting here writing this in utter shock and absolute heartbreak,' the said.
'Simply the day no one ever wants to come. I've lost a complete half of me.
'To my beautiful mother, my rock, my number one supporter, the best nanny ever, and best dog parent anyone could ever ask for, I thank you.
'Megsy, I thank you for everything. I'm the luckiest kid on earth to of had you as my mother for 29 whole years. You had nothing, but gave me and the girls absolutely everything.
'You are a warrior and my hero I always had and always will look up to you mum.
'You were my harshest critic, my biggest fan, my best friend and the one and only person I'd want to cry too.
'You're the reason I've been successful, you're the reason I'm the brother I am, partner I am, dad I am and hopefully the best son I could have possibly been.
'Not a day has or will go by without me thinking of you. You've made me so f****** proud. Your fight, resilience and work ethic is a testament to who you are as a women and that women being my super mum!
'I love you so much, I have done and would do anything all over again just to see a smile on your face and give you a hug one more time. Life will never ever been the same again.
'I promise to look after Jorja, Jonte, Bruce, Benny and of course little Scottie as best as I can as I know you'll be looking down keeping tabs on me!
'Go have a brew and lovely glass of wine with Nan up in heaven, you're reunited now. Smile down on us. 🫶🏼 9.6.64 / 1.7.25 Megan Megsy Harrod. Rest in love mum! I love you.❤️💔❤️🩹'
Matildas legends Caitlin Foord and Sam Kerr were among the high-profile people to wrap their arms around Hastings.
'Sending all my love ❤️,' Foord wrote.
And Kerr said: 'Sending love, sorry to hear ❤️❤️.'
With an English grandmother, Hastings — the 2029 'Man of Steel' — has played on the international sage for Great Britain.
And fellow Knights star and England player Kai Pearce-Paul also sent his love.
'Thinking of you my brother ❤️ love ya 🤞🏽,' Pearce-Paul said.
Roosters NRLW gun Millie Elliott said: 'I'm so sorry to hear, absolutely heartbreaking. Thinking of you and your family 🤎.
Podcaster Lavender Baj said: 'Oh Jacko I am so sorry for you and your family's loss. Thinking of you and the fam. Sending lots of love to you all ❤️❤️❤️.'
While a family friend said: 'Sorry to hear my brother, Meg was an amazing human. Loads of memories growing up with our mums. Thinking of you and the family ❤️.'
Two years ago Hastings revealed he had little to do with his famous father, Kevin, who had a stand named after him after starring for the Eastern Suburbs (later the Sydney Roosters) in the New South Wales Rugby League in the late 1970s and throughout the 80s.
Kevin and Megan separated, and Kevin married an American woman.
Jackson spent a brief time at the Roosters from 2014-16 but said it was uncomfortable due to his father's legacy.
'Everywhere I looked, I saw him, but in real life he was never there,' he said.
He said the personal impact of his parents' breakup hit him later in life, and he called it 'traumatic'.
'I remember when it was Father's Day at school. Everyone would bring their dad into the classroom to look at the artwork and stuff. I was just sitting there on my own. Teachers would say, 'Where's your dad?' He was in America doing his own thing.
'I respect what my father did in the game but we're not close as father and son. We don't talk often .... in real life he was never there. I had a mum who was my mum and my dad.'
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