Hasson hopes for luck of Irish at RL Cup

Oct 28, 2017 - 4:30 PM Can't quite remember ex-Manly forward James Hasson?

Ireland coach Mark Aston reckons that will soon change.

Forgotten NRL player Hasson, who had three seasons with the Sea Eagles but a forgettable year with Parramatta, has been playing in the English Super League for the past 12 months.

But he is primed to produce a not so subtle reminder of his talents during Ireland's Rugby League World Cup campaign, Aston says.

Off contract in England, Hasson is desperate to break back into the NRL after a torrid few years.

He played 39 games from 2013 when the Sea Eagles were the NRL front runners. He was pitted against David Gower for an interchange spot in Manly's grand final team that year against the Sydney Roosters but missed out.

Hasson hoped to nail a starting berth by signing with the Eels in 2016 but then the club's salary cap dramas occurred.

Hasson linked with Salford this year, only to be dropped after five games for New Zealand flyer Manu Vatuvei.

After claiming to have been treated "like a piece of meat" by Salford, Hasson was thrown a second Super League lifeline by Wakefield for the rest of the season.

But Hasson wants more.

With another NRL shot in his sights, the 25 year-old is now tipped to explode off the bench for the Wolfhounds starting with Sunday's Cup opener against Italy in Cairns.

"People have forgotten about him," Aston said.

"He played about 40 games when Manly were the team in the NRL.

"He's a good kid, he just lost his way a little bit. People were messing him about but now he is focused.

"I think you will get a surprise out of this kid."

World No.8 Ireland will need Hasson to fire.

The Wolfhounds - quarter-finalists in 2000 and 2008 - were stone motherless last at the 2013 Cup, failing to win a game.

However, Ireland are flying under the radar before their Italy opener despite boasting a squad loaded with Super League players including captain Liam Finn, ex-England hooker Michael McIlorum and Leeds' grand final winning props Anthony Mullally and Brad Singleton.

"We have a group who are desperate to impress for different reasons - some are hoping to get on the big stage, some are looking for bigger things," Aston said.

"Italy have their NRL players but we have our plan.

"There is a hunger in us, a bit of the Wolfhound in us.

"We have to win every game to qualify and that's our aim - Italy is the first team in our way."

Source: AAP