Des Hasler warns fans ‘would tear the joint down’ if Manly relocated

Des Hasler warns Manly fans “would tear the joint down” if their team was forced to relocate away from Brookvale Oval. And Hasler’s comments were backed by club chairman and co-owner Scott Penn.

Manly fans with club captain Daly Cherry-Evans. Picture. Phil Hillyard

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Des Hasler has warned Manly fans “would tear the joint down” if their team was forced to relocate away from Brookvale Oval.

And Hasler’s comments were backed by club chairman and co-owner Scott Penn who told The Saturday Telegraph it would be “mad” to even consider moving the Sea Eagles from Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Saturday’s clash against the Sydney Roosters will mark Hasler’s first game back in charge of a Manly team at the spiritual home since 2011, when Hasler guided the Sea Eagles to their last NRL title.

Manly fans with club captain Daly Cherry-Evans. Picture. Phil Hillyard

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But the significance of the occasion has been overshadowed this week by the expansion versus relocation debate that ignited after comments from NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg officially put all Sydney clubs on notice.

Manly is viewed as arguably the most vulnerable of all Sydney clubs given Brookvale’s outdated facilities, as well as a sharp drop in home crowds in recent years that followed a decline in on-field success.

But rather than sit back and let the fight come to him, Hasler on Friday took it head-on.

While conceding the job of returning Manly to a premiership force was not going to happen overnight, Hasler said the club’s geographical location as well as its rich history of success in a rugby league heartland should not be forgotten or ignored when it comes to deciding which clubs live and die.

Des Hasler spoke ahead of his return to Brookvale Oval.

“Where there is smoke there is fire and it could get a little bit argy-bargy by the time it comes around,” Hasler said.

“Emotively, they would tear the joint down if the club was to relocate.

“Over the past two decades it has had enormous success on the field.

“It has a proud history.

“Geographically it is centred pretty well given the fact there is nothing between here and Newcastle.”

Last year Manly only averaged 8630 for home crowds, the lowest since Hasler initially took charge in 2004, with the team only winning three of its home games in 2018.

But in 2011 on their charge to a premiership the Sea Eagles won all 10 at home, with crowds averaging 13,121.

Penn also told The Saturday Telegraph his family was committed to the club for the long haul and that club officials had been in recent discussions with the NRL about its future, even before Greenberg’s comments this week.

While no guarantees were given, Penn said: “The rhetoric has been positive in terms of us enhancing our backyard rather than moving”.

Asked directly if he believed Manly would remain on the northern beaches, Penn said: “Of course, we have to.

“The fact is we have over one million people in our catchment area.

“We are the only professional sporting team in that catchment area.

“So it we would be crazy to give it up to potentially the FFA or rugby, or someone else will put a team there.

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“At the moment we are such a dominant force on the Northern Beaches and North Shore.

“We would be mad.

“I mean, strategically, who else is going to attract that catchment area?”

One of the most emotive topics among many fans when it comes to confronting the expansion versus relocation debate relates to the massive costs associated with setting up a new franchise in non-rugby league heartlands, as opposed to helping existing clubs.

Asked if the NRL was doing enough to help existing clubs in heartland regions, Penn added: “Probably not today but we are certainly starting to work down that path.

“I think there is absolutely a willingness.

“We have already had some very early discussions with the NRL about how we can make ourselves even more dominant in the area.”

Originally published as Des Hasler warns fans ‘would tear the joint down’ if Manly relocated