Manly say they won’t be falling for any of former mentor Des Hasler’s famous mind games in the lead up to Saturday’s NRL semi-final showdown with Canterbury.
Hasler led the Sea Eagles to premiership success in 2008 and 2011, before leaving Brookvale in acrimonious circumstances after his second title win as coach at Manly to defect to Belmore in 2012.
Hasler led the Bulldogs to the grand final that year and masterminded a robust win over their 2012 conquerors Melbourne on Sunday in their elimination final to keep Canterbury’s season alive.
The former Manly halfback almost immediately branded the Sea Eagles as favourites for Saturday’s Allianz Stadium clash, a claim strenuously at odds with betting markets, in an attempt to gain an early psychological edge.
However Manly won’t be biting.
Veteran prop Jason King, for one, says Manly know Dessie too well for that.
“I’m not buying into any of Dessie’s mind games. I have been around to see a few of them,” King said at training on Tuesday.
“It is not something we will be discussing I don’t think and it is not something I am really thinking about.
“It is something that happened a long time ago and we have played the Bulldogs like 50 times since then it seems like.
“It is not something that is motivation for this squad at all. It is just the Manly Sea Eagles against the Canterbury Bulldogs and that is the approach we are taking.”
Superstar fullback Brett Stewart, who will play his 200th NRL game this weekend, laughed off Hasler’s jibes.
“There is nothing different there is there?” he said.
“He comes up with that every week.
“It is not me playing Des. It is 17 blokes playing 17 blokes, both sides know each other’s game very well and that will make for a healthy game.”
Chui
Guest
Was that in response to a question? If so, what are they meant to say?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Psychological warfare is devious, isn't it...
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
As a Manly player commentated on the mind games issue, I think Des has already planted the seed, and by Saturday night it's all the Manly players will be thinking about.
TahDan
Roar Guru
I don't think Hasler will need to employ "mind games" to beat Manly with the way the respective sides are going. Bulldogs by 20.
Manly Man
Guest
Ah dessie. The man is still a legend on the beaches and always will be, his legacy tarnishe, but still a legend. I fear he will be our downfall. Without ballin and watmough we will struggle. James graham is better than all our forwards combine lol.
MAX
Guest
This game will be tight and tough with a margin < 6 points, hopefully in the Bulldog's favour. Both coaches know each others preferences down to their favourite breakfast cereal so it will be the 1%'s as usual. You can back it in that the area 68M x 45M = 3,060M2 will have double significance for this encounter on Saturday night.
fiver
Guest
I thought Hasler's press conference after the Storm game was pretty funny. He looked like he just got out of bed and had a camera crew shoved in his face.