Spectator rivalry in rugby league is a wonderful thing, but every so often it simmers and spews over boundaries that should never be crossed.
And for this reason, I fear that Des Hasler’s return to Brookvale Oval as coach of the Bulldogs on Friday night could turn ugly.
Hasler encourages Manly fans to take aim
Signs are blaring that Des is heading for a very uncomfortable night at his former base, Brookvale, and I am not referring to what actually transpires on the field.
There are plenty of Manly folk who have not forgiven Hasler for leaving the club last October, just five days after steering it to a second premiership after his brilliant, eight year tenure as the main man at Brookvale.
Roarers must have noticed the venom and vitriol levelled at Hasler on social websites and talkback radio when, a few days after the grand final triumph over NZ Warriors, he elected to sign with the Canterbury Bulldogs for season 2013 and beyond.
History shows that the Manly hierarchy wasn’t happy with Hasler’s decision to leave and gave him an immediate release, installing Geoff Toovey as the Sea Eagles’ first grade coach.
The level of hatred, if this is the right word, seems to have heightened in Sea Eagles territory in recent days as we all prepare for what shapes as the game of the year. I understand there will be visual (placards, posters, banners) as well as audible assaults planned for Hasler’s ‘homecoming’ from Manly supporters.
Canterbury and Manly have met once since that tumult of last year, with the camouflaged-jerseyed Eagles grafting out a tense 12-10 victory at ANZ Stadium in the 2012 Anzac Round.
But that wasn’t at Fortress Brookvale. This is.
Granted, Des Hasler is a very experienced campaigner and, knowing him pretty well, any public hullabaloo will be treated like water off a duck’s back.
I believe he deserves much better, especially at Brooky.
His service record with the Manly Warringah club richly entitles him to the tag of ‘All Time Great’, not ‘Des-erter’. The halfback-turned lock played 255 games in the maroon and white and spent a total of 11 years on the coaching staff – eight in first grade for three grand final appearances and two premierships.
It should be pointed out that he did not want to leave Manly at the time. He tried exhaustively to snare a contract upgrade/extension in the 18 months before his departure but the floundering Sea Eagles board kept stalling and baulking.
It’s a fact that the contract Hasler eventually signed with the Bulldogs was for less than Manly’s final money offer.
Why wouldn’t he leave for the job security he craved and join a financial, successful club with a highly stable and progressive administration?
Hasler deserves to be treated with the utmost respect when he brings his table-topping Bulldogs to Brookvale.
Anything less will be a blight on the people who love to say they hail from God’s country.
If they vent their fury in his direction after all he has done for the joint, I reckon they should all go to hell.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
As long as the Bulldogs win :)
The Barry
Roar Guru
Tim - that would be my number one preference for a GF this year.
Bearfax
Guest
As usual Oikee blusters on with his anti-Manly drivel without serious reference to reality. Just in the last three years Manly lost William and Jamil Hopoate, Lussick, Warea-Hargraves, Oldfeild, Hodkinson, Tony Williams, Whare, Harrison, Savu, to other NRL clubs (all but one are first graders). They have lost about the same number in the past 5 years to overease clubs. And all but a few played first grade. Manly have lost close to 25 players in the past 5 years because they couldnt fit them in their cap. How many premier first garde players did they buy during that period...very few if any. In fact if you check Manly has lost if not the most players in the past 5 years then very close to it. Some of the English sides have two or three ex Manly players each. How many have Brisbane lost, a team that can use almost 2/3 of the state as its own breading ground and pick and choose who they want. Like to know how some of those past Brisbane sides managed to stay under the cap...oh that's right they were caught once werent they. Manly hasnt been 'caught' once, one of the very few sides who have played by the rules. Now Oikee I know what your response is going to be. ..that they havent been caught. PROVE IT. If you cant then you're just talking through your hat and showing poor sportsmanship.I could if you like start a propaganda spot here about the Brisbane side, accuse them of all sorts of offences that I cant prove. But I'm not into bearing false witness against my neighbour.
Freddy
Guest
Who would you trust? A knock about bloke like Des, or some twatty Northern Beaches board members.. This whole saga is hilarious and a little bit sad. I can't believe how dumb & conceited some people are. It's so pathetic. I am really hoping the Manly crowd is well behaved & shows due respect. Maybe some Manly fans could make some Pro-Des banners & chants to show the rest of Sydney that the peninsula isn't totally dominated by boofheads.
Tim Prentice
Expert
Yes, The Barry, that Round 8 game between the Eagles and Dogs was a pearler. Friday night could be just as rivetting, if not better. Wouldn't it be sensational if it panned out that Manly and Canterbury faced up in the 2012 Grand Final? Is there anyone in RL who wouldn't like to see that?
Tim Prentice
Expert
Hey Mals, Des wanted a proper extension of his contract in 2011 and was told it would not be forthcoming until he ticked off a number of coaching KPI's set up by management. That was a phenomenal insult for a man of his stature (ie player/premiership winning coach) at the club but he did not want to leave. In the end, time ran out for Manly. The Bulldogs swooped to guarantee him job security , a potential premiership team and the money he deserved.
Tim Prentice
Expert
Appreciate your passion Louise. But I am not in the habit of perpetuating myths as you suggest. What I have written is one hundred per cent accurate. Your beliefs, I suspect, come from a bar-fly, a street corner tipper or some such source. Do not feel betrayed when you see D. Hasler in the rival team's coaching box. Manly had umpteen chances to lock up his services but were simply not clever enough. There were some "smarties" on the Sea Eagles' Board at the time who weren't prepared to take a punt on the coach's longevity. He needed that as a professional and the Bulldogs were shrewd enough to provide it. Hasler deserves respect with a capital R from the Manly faithful. The club's management does not.
Arthur Fonzarelli
Guest
Manly were flat against the Knights and had their pants pulled down for one reason - they were mentally already at Brookie Friday night. This will be a cracker of a game. 2 strong Sydney clubs at a parochial suburban venue with a bit of soap opera and spitefulness thrown in = rugby league at its finest.
Worlds biggest
Guest
Dessie signed for the Dogs in week 1 of the Semi's, Manly butchered the negotiations letting it protract all season. Why didn't they extend his deal early on in the piece. If he doesn't win the comp this year with the Dogs he will give it a great crack next season.
sheek
Guest
Tim, I agree totally with your sentiments. There's nothing wrong with Manly fans giving Des Hasler a friendly chiaking. However, to abuse him is to show total disrespect & ignorance of good manners. Manly fans should never forget that Hasler guided the Sea Eagles to two premierships. Nor was it his first intention to leave the club. He only walked when relations with senior board members became irreparably poisonous. Des Hasler is a good man & a great coach. That's how Sea Eagles fans should remember him, & treat him.
NF
Guest
oikee Broncos fans shouldn't speak about salary caps as it seems the majority of Broncos sides over the years tend to be the QLD side pretty much bar 4 or 5 exclusions yet Mr Shubert didn't check the Broncos cap in the 90's/00's.
oikee
Guest
I watched a replay on Fox Manly verse the Bulldogs 1882 i think the year was, with all the same old dinosaurs running around today for Manly, Rose, Ballin, Lyons, Matai, Stewarts, Watmough, King, was Menzies on holiday in France. ?. How Manly ever keep all these players under the cap when top teams have gone through full rosters is beyond anyones belief. I looked at the dogs lineup, Mason, Sonny Bill Williams, these guys have played world cups and in France, Hazem has been retired for 5 years sinse this game on fox. Manly some how have keep their full squad. Even the Broncos lost Petro, and half our team ended up at the dogs because they lost class players due to cap pressures,. Not Manly, manly has magic money, under the radar cap money. :) Come on Mals, the game is up son. Time we outed Shubert for what he really is, a Manly fan and sponser.
Mals
Roar Rookie
The "Show me the money" sentence spoken by Des during the Grandfinal parade down in Manly didn't give it away eh Matt?
Mals
Roar Rookie
Yep reigning PREMIERS Oikee. Life's tough on the mean streets of the Northern Beaches.
oikee
Guest
Manly are on life support. One more all -n should just about do it.
Tony Archers Maroon Underware
Guest
Spot on eaglesnack
eagleJack
Guest
Yep it's Manly fans who aren't very bright Tony Archers Maroon "Underware".
Matt F
Roar Guru
The only problem with that was that the media was already reporting it as a done deal. They'd already started reporting it before the GF. The cat was out of the bag so there was no point denying it anymore. If he'd waited a few more weeks then people would have been angry at him for hiding it for those weeks.
Matt F
Roar Guru
He owes the Manly fans? Coaching the club to 2 premierships wasn't enough? I'm curious why Des leaving for less money is a myth yet you seem to take a $1million figure as fact? Unless you were heavily involved in the negotiations you'd have about as much idea of what he's earning as anybody else which is basically no idea.
SamClench
Roar Pro
I agree. I remember back in '04, '05, the Doggies were the team everyone loved to hate. Wasn't just about them winning, it was the culture at the club. Unruly fans, dickhead players. In the last few years they've become a club that is really worthy of our respect.