Monday Bunker: Trbojevic leading Manly to promised land

The Sea Eagles are soaring towards the NRL finals and one man is winning plenty of plaudits for the club’s unlikely tilt at the title — coach Des Hasler. WATCH THE MONDAY BUNKER

The Sea Eagles are soaring towards the NRL finals and one man is winning plenty of plaudits for the club’s unlikely tilt at the title — coach Des Hasler.

After returning to the northern beaches to take control of a side few predicted to trouble the top eight, Hasler has Manly firing.

“Has he won coach of the year already? He’s just about got it sewn up hasn’t he, terrific effort,” The Courier-Mail’s Robert Craddock said.

“He’s been one of the stories of the year.

“I must admit when they announced Des was going back to Manly I thought ‘No, that’s one step too far’. But they got it right.”

Fox Sports’ Dan Ginnane said the “success stories” of Manly’s less heralded players highlighted Hasler’s incredible influence.

“What he’s turned Brad Parker into, Reuben Garrick out of nowhere, Curtis Sironen ... Obviously the Des polish is having a massive influence,” he said.

The Daily Telegraph’s Fatima Kdouh said after an unhappy end to what was an underrated stint as coach of the Bulldogs, Hasler had made the most of everything at his disposal at Manly.

“I know he took a roster on this year that not many people thought would do anything, but he had a bit more class in this roster,” she said.

“He had the Turbos, DCE, Marty Taupau up front - it’s just like a lemon, he’s squeezed every last drop out of them.”

Don’t miss this week’s Monday Bunker featuring Tim Gilbert, Robert Craddock, Fatima Kdouh and Dan Ginnane as they dissect a huge weekend of rugby league. WATCH IN THE PLAYER ABOVE.

Originally published as Monday Bunker: Trbojevic leading Manly to promised land