St Helens signing Jackson Hastings has taken to social media to offer a simple explanation for a post-match incident that many fans misinterpreted, with the NRL recruit admitting that the ‘optics don’t look great’.

Hastings skipped Saints in Matty Lees’ absence but it was a frustrating night for himself and his teammates as Warrington Wolves ran out 24-14 winners with Kyle Feldt’s last-minute consolation try making that scoreline look more favourable to the visitors.

Warrington’s backs lit St Helens up whilst their pack controlled the game, leaving St Helens on the end of an eighth consecutive loss to Sam Burgess’ side. For Hastings and other debutants, it was their first defeat at the hands of Wire but it was still incredibly frustrating.

Those frustrations were evident within the game as Hastings found himself sin-binned for a late shot on Cai Taylor-Wray and the TV cameras seemed to suggest that those frustrations boiled over post-match.

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St Helens star explains post-match clip

With the game aired on Sky Sports, their cameras showed Hastings and a number of other St Helens players speaking to fans. Hastings in particular looked animated with the half-back at times appearing to try and climb the hoardings and move into the crowd.

He’s now taken to social media to clarify what was happening, explaining that it was nothing to do with him being upset at St Helens’ fans, as some on social media had suggested, but instead that he was trying to protect his daughter who was in the crowd.

Posting on Instagram, he said: “As for the video of me at the end of the game, I’ll never let a grown man act like an absolute clown, say the stuff he did and act reckless around my baby, especially over a game.

“Optics don’t look great but I’m a proud protective dad before a rugby player and her safety at all times is my only concern.

“His own fans got him kicked out in the end so I appreciate them Warrington fans for doing the right thing.”

He had also shared a message crediting Warrington, labelling them as ‘too good on the night’. St Helens will host Leigh Leopards next up as they seek to land their first Super League win under Paul Rowley.

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