Des Hasler is on the verge of making a comeback to Manly as the Sea Eagles’ coaching debacle takes another shock twist.
It’s been widely reported Hasler’s management have entered into negotiations with the NRL club to return to the northern beaches just more than eight years after his acrimonious departure.
Assistant John Cartwright was thought to be the frontrunner to take over from Trent Barrett and has publicly received the backing of senior players Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom and Jake Trbojevic.
Barrett is serving a 12-month notice period after quitting the club in July but is expected to sever ties in the coming weeks.
However, Hasler, who was sacked from Canterbury last year, has emerged as a surprise contender.
Hasler was responsible for rebuilding Manly following the disastrous Northern Eagles merger and transformed the club into a powerhouse, taking them to three grand finals and two premierships from 2004 to 2011.
Hasler was sacked from Manly following their 2011 grand final win after it was revealed he had signed with Canterbury and the Sea Eagles accused him of attempting to lure staff members to follow him to Belmore.
Manly chairman Scott Penn said at the time: “If he wants to bring it on in court, let’s go.”
However, Hasler and the Penn family have reportedly patched up their differences in the past few weeks.
Hasler was sacked by Canterbury in late 2017 despite signing a two-year contract extension just months earlier.
He eventually reached an out-of-court settlement with the Dogs.
Hasler has an impressive coaching resume including a 58.2 per cent winning record after reaching the finals in 12 straight seasons from 2005 to 2016.
Kathryn
Roar Rookie
Dessie did a great job resurrecting Manly after the Northern Eagles debacle. Thank heavens for Scott Penn's parents commonsense toward a move that the fans will get behind. Manly's successes at a coaching level have been achieved with 'Manly blood' at the helm. Barrett has been a debacle- the fans didn't want him & the results were diabolical on many fronts. I hope Dessie makes Jake T our Captain. DCE has made numerous threats over the last few months, adding unnecessary fuel to the fire. The Turbo's are the future of our club. 1st task in the job for Dessie is to sign them for life. So hope Tooves gets a role amongst it all somewhere, although I can't see that happening. Bring on season 2019. Asides the Baby Blues this year, there's been little to celebrate, & I'm fretting for (real) footy again already. Although it was pleasing to see the Chooks get over the Storm.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Used to be such a powerful, well-run club. Arthurson once bought top players from other sides & admitted it was to weaken the opposition even if they played reserves for Manly e.g. Ray Brown from Wests. Peter Peters had influence via the Media. Bob Fulton threatened to run over Harrigan with a cement truck when Manly were "robbed" & there was Good Old 7 Tackle Hartley to help out when needed.
Tom G
Guest
Agree totally.. Ballin I heard somewhere is definitely on the cards and I don’t think Beaver will need to be asked twice to play some role. The biggest thing that this side lacks is Manly pride and all of these guys have that in surplus
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Would love Tooves to be assistant. Great way to win back the hearts of the fans after a few tough years. Throw Matty Ballin in as strength and conditioning coach, and have Beaver there in some capacity, and the place would be rocking!
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Given the circumstances he is probably a good choice. At least a lot of the fans will get behind him and the team and get to the ground to support the team. It will be interesting to see how his thinking has progressed regarding the attacking side of things.
Tom G
Guest
I think you’re both right. Dessie always has sides that played for eighty minutes because they were fitter than most and were well drilled enough to do so. The edge he has on Maguire is his Manly DNA. No coach has ever succeeded at Manly without it. So I will be delighted to see him return.. the only way it could get better is if Toovey came as his number 2.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
It’s not just the fitness Bearfax, it’s that Des is a disciplinarian. And that is exactly what this young side needs. I got so sick and tired hearing the Manly players saying in interviews what a “good bloke” Trent Barrett was, and how he was such a “good mate”. It was that attitude that left them with the worst defensive record in 2018. When things got tough, the boys packed it in. After all your “good mate” would never drop you. I wanted Michael Maguire for this reason. But Dessie was my second choice. I really hope they sign him ASAP so he can go into the lab and prepare for next year straight away. He has a talent of getting the most out of his squads. Just keep him away from the players contracts!
Randy
Roar Rookie
yeah I'm not so sure if there is any truth to that...
PNG Broncos fan88
Roar Guru
Agree, Hasler was tailor made for the job. Don't know why he left in the first place.
Tom G
Guest
His record speaks for itself and his Manky credentials are impeccable. I guess we’ve all seen what a poor coach can do with this squad so let’s see what a guy who knows what he’s doing can do.
damo
Guest
Good choice- Manly had to go for a Manly man (so it was Hasler or Toovey) mainly because only a coach with maroon blood will be able to overlook all the background issues & get on with the job. Hasler did have a poor effect on us at the Dogs but only after a fair bit of success & we're just as dysfunctional a club as the Eagles at times so it was really no surprise. Hopefully they do sign him & things look up next year as they have some great players & it would be good to see them playing well.
Big Daddy
Guest
Truth is no one will take it . Talk about a poison chalice.
Brett
Roar Rookie
Back to the future. Whoa, this is heavy.
Bearfax
Roar Guru
Hasler has his detractors but he knows the game and he is especially one coach who focussed heavily on fitness, being a fitness freak himself. Story goes he used to run backwards up Darley Road from the Corso towards North Head as part of his fitness regime, and if you know that street, running up it forward would take most people out. He's also learned a few things during his generally successful terms a Manly and Canterbury. Like he did with Manly in 2005, he has the opportunity with the present Sea Eagles herd to develop some inexperienced, very young but talented players, and create the bonding he is good at. Hope he does decide to come to the Sea Eagles. They need some forward thinking after several disastrous years.
Paul
Roar Guru
Wow! From memory, Hasler's departure from Manly was more than acrimonious, so I can't see how he would be completely welcomed back with open arms. The Manly financial situation is tailor made for Des's back ended contracts so if I'm Manly I'd be very careful about what signings are made, etc. In saying all of that, he's a very good fit with Manly though I thought his last efforts with the Doggies were pretty poor and certainly boring. If Manly takes him, he needs to step it up as there are some very good players at the Sea Eagles.