Crestfallen NRL star Jackson Hastings is mourning the death of his mother Megan, who he labelled ‘my biggest fan and best friend.’
Hastings, 29, posted a lengthy tribute via Instagram on Wednesday, where he was in disbelief at the devastating news.
‘I can’t believe I’m actually sitting here writing this in utter shock and absolute heart break, simply the day no one ever wants to come I’ve lost a complete half of me,’ the post began from the Knights half.
‘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.
Crestfallen NRL star Jackson Hastings is mourning the death of his mother, who he labelled ‘my biggest fan and best friend’
Hastings, 29, posted a lengthy message via Instagram on Wednesday, where he was in disbelief at the devastating news (pictured, with his late mother)
Teammates Bradman Best and Tyson Gamble passed on their condolences to Hastings on Instagram, as did TV identity Beau Ryan and Matildas star Caitlin Foord
‘You were my harshest critic, my biggest fan, my best friend and the one and only person I’d want to cry to.
‘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 fu**ing proud. Your fight, resilience and work ethic is a testament to who you are as a woman and that woman 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!
‘9-6-64 / 1-7-25 Megan Megsy Harrod, Rest in love mum! I love you.’
It comes as Hastings previously opened up on the toll his footy legend father’s absence took on him as a child, revealing he would cry himself to sleep at night because his dad was ‘never there.’
Hastings’ NRL career has been colourful – but the support of his mother (pictured, right) was constant
Hastings previously opened up about his childhood, revealing he would cry himself to sleep at night because his dad was ‘never there’ (pictured, ahead of Christmas with his mum in 1997)
Nicknamed ‘Horrie’, Kevin Hastings played 239 games for Easts and was known as one of the fittest rugby league players in the world
His father Kevin was one of the best players in the game as he took the field for the Roosters from 1976 to 1987.
Kevin spent a lot of time in the US after retiring and wed an American woman after his marriage to Jackson’s mother failed.
‘I probably didn’t realise how tough and traumatic it was for me,’ the younger Hastings said of the pair’s estrangement on NRL star James Graham’s The Bye Round podcast.
‘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.’