Former Sydney Rooster Michael Crocker has come out with a left fielder saying he believes Jackson Hastings should be halfback ahead of embattled captain Mitchell Pearce.

Crocker, who won a title with the Chooks in 2002, believes the Roosters are a better team with Pearce at five-eight and the young Hastings calling the shots.

“I actually think their best combination is Jackson at seven and Mitchell at six,” Crocker said on the sportsfan.com.au website.

“Jayden Nikorima’s there as well.

“So they’ve got some good combinations there that they can utilise and Jayden Nikorima’s going to be a fantastic player for them off the bench, initially, because of that utility value that he can play.”

The Roosters are in England and play St. Helens tomorrow morning in the World Club Series.