Look away now: Wigan Warriors star cheering for St Helens this weekend!

The Wigan Warriors back, who last year scooped Super League’s prestigious Man of Steel award, played for the Australian side in the National Rugby League for three seasons, making the switch to England where he now represents Warriors after signing from Salford Red Devils ahead of this season.

Fellow Super League side – and current champions – St Helens will be flying the flag for the competition in this weekend’s prestigious World Club Challenge, duelling it out with reigning NRL title-winners Roosters to seize bragging rights as the planet’s premier rugby league outfit.

And while 24-year-old Hastings may have started his career at the decorated Australian team, he believes England is now his adopted new home.

“It’s a big game – obviously the NRL sides are hotly favoured when they come to play our Super League sides, but if any side is going to do it, I think it’s this St Helens side,” he said.

“Obviously I played for the Roosters and I’m extremely proud of my time there, but I play in the Super League now and St Helens are flying the flag for the whole of England, so I hope they get the job done.

“It’s no fluke what St Helens did last year, and I think they’d compete in the NRL, to be honest, and that’s how good I think they are – it’s going to be a tight game, but I actually think they’re going to do it.

“I think it will be a game that’s going to go down to the wire, but I’m going to say 22-18 to St Helens.”

Saints have enjoyed a promising start to Super League once again this season, winning two of their opening three matches to sit at the summit of the table on points difference.

But their attention turns to other matters this weekend as they welcome the World Club Challenge’s joint-most successful ever side, who have lifted the trophy four times and are now vying to leap ahead of Wigan and clinch the record outright.

Hastings believes that will be a stern task, however, as they prepare to do battle with joint Man of Steel points leader Jonny Lomax – tied on six with Huddersfield Giants’ Aidan Sezer – at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Saturday.

“It’s just the way Jonny plays that I look up to – he makes everything look easy, and the best way to describe him is that he’s just a smooth player,” he added.

“He never looks rushed and he never looks phased, and the difference between his bad and his good games is very minimal.”

The Betfred World Club Challenge is a huge night in Rugby League which sees the Super League champions, St Helens take on the NRL Champions, Sydney Roosters.

This year’s contest takes place at the Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens this Saturday, February 22 (7:45pm kick-off).

Secure your seat by visiting https://tickets.saintsrlfc.com/home.aspx