Des Hasler has been sacked as the coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs after six years in charge of the club.
Hasler had agreed to an extension with the Bulldogs earlier in 2017, but, in a statement released this afternoon, the club said the agreement reached with Hasler was non-binding, and that the experienced coach has not had his contract renewed for 2018.
“Today, I informed Des Hasler and his management of our decision to pursue a new Head Coach for our Club, effective immediately,” Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib said in the statement.
“These types of conversations are never easy, especially when they involve people we respect personally and professionally, however, the club believes the decision to change our football leadership was absolutely necessary.
“The club will now begin its search for a new head coach and will provide further information once that process has been completed.”
Hasler has been under intense scrutiny for almost all of 2017. While the Bulldogs did finish the year in 11th place, just three wins shy of the finals, that position was somewhat inflated by a successful end to the season which saw them rack up three victories in as many weeks.
Hasler has had a long stint at Belmore, joining the club in 2012 and immediately having success, leading the side to the minor premiership and grand final, which they lost 14-4.
2017 was the first year the Bulldogs missed the finals under Hasler’s tutelage, a season which saw the Canterbury club consistently struggle to score enough points.
While it’s not yet certain who will fill Hasler’s position, the new coach will be under pressure from the get-go with big-money signings Aaron Woods and Kieran Foran heading to Belmore for the 2018 season.
Hasler’s immediate future is unclear, although there would be little surprise should he be linked to the current vacancy at the Gold Coast Titans, and he may well be mentioned as a possible successor to Laurie Daley as the NSW State of Origin coach.
terrence
Guest
Tom, they confessed to cheating the salary cap for five seasons, 2006 to 2010. That's a hefty chunk of some careers at the Storm.
Gary
Guest
#totshugefactor#BigJ#Hasler#TheRoar
Gary
Guest
Howz that saying go ??-a zebra dosnt change its stripes. The storm haven't been caught under the cap does not mean they have not exceeded the cap. Same could be said for any team potentially (cough cough splutter roosters/ horseys) if you wear a tin foil hat like I do.
Gary
Guest
Howzit gooing up in the topend anyway BigJ I reeely dig your comments on the roar in fakt yooo are the most clearly smart football judge on this site and everything you tiep makes perfect cents I reckon that BigJ nose his NRL and in fakt any sports more than youze all so Just pipe it down ya bunch of no body no ones..... Go BigJ!!
Gary
Guest
I bloody hope not. The Titans need an attacking style of play to capitalise on the brilliance of Ash Taylor, Konnie Hurrell and (hopefully) Hayne. Not some bash it up the middle drull brand of footy that Maguire and Des have been dishing up these last few seasons... For my serious pick the Titans need Kevvie or the Walker Brothers. Or for my ridiculous out of the box pick Cam Smith as Titans Captain Coach in 2018!!
Tom G
Guest
I don't understand your point the Storm in 06-08 were proven cap rorters on an unprecedented level. Smith or not left them massively over
terrence
Guest
Got to agree Tom G, he rebuilt Manly from almost scratch and Toovey did inherit the premiers (and had been along for the ride with Des before that).
terrence
Guest
Doubt it John, the were well over the cap. If they put a team under the cap on the team Manly would have been playing against ten players!
John
Guest
Considering they beat Storm without Smith, it's arguable that they were under the cap for that match.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
Reni was last seen advising NRL players to be wary of getting cartoons on your body because it effects your job prospects.
Tom G
Guest
I would add that Manly did win two premierships in his time and we're a complete basket case when he got them. In fact they were on the brink of extinction financially. Sure he played loose and fast with contracts but never overspent unlike plenty during that time who just plain cheated. His back ending of deals may well háve left them in a predicament but Toovey got them into a GF in just two seasons after Des left. Ok Manly had to rebuild and shed players but age was dictating that too. Now after a couple of years they look like they're on the road to recovery. To be dismissive of the Coaches ability as being entirely do with deferred payment is neither fair nor accurate
Big Daddy
Guest
He's talking about his IQ again.
Tom G
Guest
I agree but there are plenty of coaches who've outright cheated the cap and have failed dismally.
terrence
Guest
Yep Alex L, Reni would be as relaible as Willie Mason, funny how both are trying to raise their media profiles and Des didn't want anything to do with them.
terrence
Guest
Thanks TigerMike. Glad you ejnoyed reading it!
Gray-Hand
Guest
".. his only flaw is that he seems to be hooked on back ended contracts which provide short term gain with pain at the end." That one single flaw is what all of his success is built on! Any coach in the NRL could improve their win/loss ratio by backending and making promises to players about future contracts they know they won't be able to keep in order to stack their roster for short term gain. But most coaches have the personal integrity not to do it to the players and the sense of responsibility not to do it to their clubs. And it doesn't just affect the one club that is doing it. It distorts the salary cap by denying those players to the market and eventually forcing out players on big money to be picked up on the cheap by other clubs at below market rates thereby giving them an unfair advantage.
Tom G
Guest
Des was and is a great coach.. his only flaw is that he seems to be hooked on back ended contracts which provide short term gain with pain at the end. There is no doubt he got out of Manly at just the tight time as most of the financial impact of the back ending is still being experienced. It appears that the Dogs are now going through the impact in their roster. I'm amused that there are people out there who are bagging Des Hasler whilst lauding the achievements of Brad Arthur..seriously? I know who I would rather have as coach of my team any day of the week Arthur could only dream of Hasler's record.
terrence
Guest
Gray-Hand, you don't ruin a club, they keep evolving, they'll go through their ups and downs. Tooves will coach again in the NRL (he almost got the Warriors job) and Des will coach again. That's the genius of the NRL!
Gray-Hand
Guest
True, but the storm have been under the cap for a long time now, and the team has maintained its success with lots of new talent having been brought in to replace the old talent. Bellamy might have a blemish on his record, but I don't think there is any doubt that he has demonstrated that he can keep a roster strong.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah...I agree with that. Although it's difficult bagging Des' management of the salary cap on one hand and praising Bellamy's on the other.