Is Des Hasler a good coach or a potentially great one? His record suggests testimony for both arguments.
2014 will clearly be a major influence on how history will perceive the former primary school teacher.
Two grand final wins in 13 years of NRL coaching is indeed a formidable record, especially when his foundation club the Manly Sea Eagles were struggling when he took over as head coach in 2004.
Hasler won two Premierships with Manly in 2008 and 2011 before joining the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2012, where he took them to the grand final in his first year at the club.
Every top class coach has special players and many of them leave, and it is the great coaches that ‘find a way’ to overcome that loss and not lose team momentum with the right succession plan.
Ben Barba was Hasler’s best player in 2012 and since notification of his defection to the Brisbane Broncos, the Bulldogs have gone backwards.
The succession plan, it seems, is veteran winger Sam Perrett, who dropped a simple bomb in Round 1 and cost his team heavily with Barba’s Broncos scoring a try shortly after.
The Bulldogs have been crying out for a top class fullback, some genuine organisation in the halves and some dash from dummy half.
But this week’s announcement that giant prop Andrew Fifita had been recruited for next season was a shocker.
Fifita is arguably the best statistical big forward in the world, but the Bulldogs have no shortage of top class big men.
Their forward line already includes James Graham, Frank Pritchard, Tony Williams, Tim Browne, David Klemmer, Dale Finucane, Pat O’Hanlon, Greg Eastwood, Aiden Tolman and Lachlan Burr.
In fact, the club has so much depth in that department that the promising young prop Lloyd Perrett is unlikely to even get a run this season.
The current Bulldogs forward pack is as competitive as any in the NRL, but the team is off the pace in other key positions.
Why are they investing millions into more forwards when they have just lost their star fullback?
A fair question supporters are asking no doubt.
With the exception of pivot Josh Reynolds, the other crucial positions of fullback, halfback and hooker remain a concern for the Bulldogs.
It is reassuring for supporters that the Bulldogs have also signed the Sharks’ gun young hooker Michael Lichaa, who already offers much more in attack than their current number nine and skipper Michael Ennis.
Hasler achieved his fame as a coach largely on the back of the best one, six and seven combination in the NRL at Manly.
Fullback Brett Stewart was breaking try scoring records, Keiran Foran became an international representative and Dally Cherry-Evans won the Rookie of the Year in 2011.
It seems that the Sharks are self-destructing by allowing many of their highly promising juniors to leave the club.
Tyson Frizell (Dragons), Tyrone Peachey (Panthers) and Chad Townsend (Warriors) have all gone.
So while the Bulldogs were grabbing Michael Lichaa, also from the Sharks, you would think that fullback Michael Gordon and half Todd Carney would have been a priority over yet another big man.
Maybe there is a method in Hasler’s madness; maybe that method is what separates the good from the great.
Steven
Guest
On another note..... Is it just me or is ricky stuart an extremely ordinary coach...... I've yet to find someone who disagrees.....I'm certain that he intends on getting the wooden spoon at as many clubs as possible.....
Steven
Guest
Des hasler is hands down the greatest coach in the game at the moment......he turns average players into champions..... I'm sure three weeks on from your last comment Scott, you see the early rewards for his brilliant coaching....
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Christian, It is all relative. A prop is no where as valuable as a spine player and never will be. It's simple; if the key position players do not organise the team well and gain good field position then it makes little difference what anyone else does. Its hard to win without the ball in bad field position.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Muzz He will earn over $1m a year when u throw everything in.
Christian D'Aloia
Roar Guru
It doesn't matter what position he plays. If it's a star player who can win you a game, he is worth the money. Never mind what number he wears on his back.
Muzz
Guest
Is it 850 plus 3rd party or including?
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Hoff I agree that paying that much for a non spine player is not good use of the cap.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Baz When Des was at Manly everything seemed to go well for him and he always seem to find the players he wanted. This is the first time he has a real challenge. he has tried 2 players to replace Barba and both failed failed. he needs to get that right if he wants to maintain his reputation. I am not bagging Fifita and consider him the best prop in the game (not counting Sam burgess who i consider a lock) but he should not be the Bulldogs priority at the moment. They need a 7 and a 1.
The Hoff
Guest
Hey De$ if you lay down with dogs you'll end up with fleas. He won't win another premiership , If the salary cap is being enforced paying a prop 850k is suicide.
The Barry
Roar Guru
If Hasler took over Manly in 2004 then that makes this his 11th season. Four GF appearances for two wins at two clubs in ten years is a sensational performance. One way or the other Hasler's career isn't going to be judged on 2014. While it's a very strange decision to sign Fifita it's hardly "a shocker" to sign a young Origin and Test player who plays huge minutes and racks up huge numbers. I reckon two of the existing big name forwards must be tagged to go. Maybe Kasiano and Eastwood. I rate both but their % of time on field over the past two years has been pretty low. I reckon they'll go hard at Blake Ferguson if he gets the green light to play in 2015 and turn him into a 1. He will be a sensation. It would be a shame though if signing Fifita cost the Dogs any of Klemmer, Perrett, Burr, Jackson or Finucane.
Tiger
Guest
You've lost me now.. Yeah Bellamy didn't poach players because HE DIDNT HAVE TOO..because he retained his gun players by paying them under the table! Let's say Fifita was 'developed' at the Storm during those dubious days and clubs were offering him big bucks..Storm management just offers him some special 'incentives' and he'd stay..no need to 'poach'..if these type of players didnt t stay he'd be poaching other players to replace em like everybody does..make no mistake! I'm not saying he's not a good coach but geeze put it into perspective..he had a dream ride compared to other coaches who followed the salary cap rules! As for Des and life after Barba..it's been one game..sheesh..with at that attitude you would've written off the Rooster last year too after round one!
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Sir I dont think his Bank Manager is.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Glenn I thought Bennett did a great job with the Knights last year.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Muzz I dont think T Rex is a forward....he is like Mal meninga and should play right center
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Muzz I agree with everything you said. I am a huge fan of "lawn" Moa.
Johnno
Guest
And how do you know sir jamie lyon?
Sir Jamie Lyon
Guest
Des should of stayed at manly. He is privately regretting that decision
Muzz
Guest
I'll also add that why was T.Rex so effective at Manly and so ineffective at the Dogs?
Glenn Innes
Guest
Yes but Bennet had the enormous advantage of coaching Brisbane in an era before the Salary Cap was properly enforced Brisbane had the whole of QLD as a junior league (even NQ kids wanted to play for Brisbane in the early years) and were running around defacto State teams in a club comp. Yes he won a premiership with Saints but Browne had that team knocking on the door for a few seasons and Bennet didn't have to beat Melbourne to win it as they were playing for nothing due to salary cap breaches. I just see a lot more "coaching" in Bellamy teams than Bennett teams. As far as Roberts is concerned I guess we will have to wait and see what happens - they just rolled Manly at Brookvale not a bad start.
Muzz
Guest
So do you think Hasler can be just as effective and/or successful at the Dogs? I rate Fifita but like most people don't understand spending that much money on a prop. I'll use Sam Moa as an example as to why i think Des has got it wrong. - Robbo believed that Sam was good value and gave him another chance in the NRL.Im guessing he was on no more than 200 K which then gives you scope to purchase a spine player and in the Dogs case, they need a 1 and 7.Moa went on to be a major contributor in the Roosters 2013 premiership and a mini masterstroke by the coach in charge.I'm surprised that Des isn't able to get the performance that he is seeking form his existing props. Also, i am surprised that someone of Haslers experience is left without a quality 7.