Des Hasler on Manly exit and plan to turn around the Gold Coast Titans

Des Hasler will officially relaunch his coaching career when the Titans take on the Dragons. He talks to TRAVIS MEYN about his Manly exit, turning the Titans into contenders and potentially outlasting Wayne Bennett.

Des Hasler insists he never considered retirement following his messy Manly exit as the two-time premiership winner officially relaunches his NRL career.

Hasler will return to an NRL coaches’ box for the first time since 2022 when the Gold Coast Titans host St George Illawarra at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday night.

While it may be a battle of the 2023 cellar dwellers on paper – the Titans finished 14th and Dragons 16th – there is plenty on the line for both teams.

Dragons mentor Shane Flanagan returns to NRL coaching following his 2018 suspension and Hasler is out to reignite his career with a win on home soil.

After guiding Manly to the 2021 preliminary finals, the Sea Eagles imploded in the back end of 2022 following the infamous pride jersey scandal which divided the club.

The Sea Eagles lost their last seven games of the 2022 season to crash out of the top eight, with Hasler becoming a casualty of the Brookvale civil war.

Now 63, and with 18 seasons as an NRL head coach under his belt, Hasler could have faded into the background. But he wasn’t ready to give it away.

Des Hasler said he never considered retirement after finishing up at Manly. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“No, not really,” Hasler said when asked if he contemplated retirement.

“If you’re going to give it up then you give it up.

“It’s a bit like that (you’re in or out). There’s no easing out of it.

“It might sound boring but I enjoy coaching and the interaction. It doesn’t last a long time.”

Hasler has committed to the Titans for the next three years after being headhunted to replace Justin Holbrook, who was sacked last year following three-and-a-half seasons in charge of Gold Coast.

The contract will take Hasler through to 65, but he laughed off suggestions he could follow the lead of 74-year-old Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett.

“There’s only one Wayne.”

For now, Hasler has set his sights on transforming the Titans from NRL pretenders to contenders.

Since entering the NRL in 2007, the Titans have only won finals match (2010) from four top eight finishes and collected two wooden spoons (2011, 19).

Hasler had an acrimonious split with Manly. Picture: NRL Photos

They are coming off back-to-back bottom four seasons and trying to shake a reputation of crumbling under pressure.

But Hasler insists the Titans don’t need to toughen up.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of being tough these days. They are all elite in what they do,” he said.

“It’s the consistency that is the key. The week-in, week-out that we have to chase and the hurdles that come with it.

“There will be injuries, whether it’s one or two or a major run of injuries, and the cycle of Origin and how we handle that.

“It will be a really good journey.”

While Hasler brushes off those suggestions, defence has been his biggest focus since taking the reins at Parkwood last year.

He constructed a purpose-built training dojo for sweltering pre-season wrestling sessions and a common theme reported by Titans players is that he hasn’t been scared to give them feedback. Maybe even a spray.

“I can’t believe four months has gone so quickly,” Hasler said.

“I haven’t changed much at all. I’ve left the attack alone because they can score points.

“I thought they were doing fine last year. They were unlucky in a couple of games.

“Like when they were up 24-nil (against the Dolphins and lost). That’s not Justin’s fault. You don’t lose from 24-nil.

“The players have been incredibly compliant and worked really hard. They are a super group to work with.”

The Titans’ squad has some of the best players in the game.

Plenty has changed in the NRL since Hasler launched his coaching career with Manly in 2004 and he remains in the turbulent industry 20 years on.

He took the Sea Eagles to grand finals in 2007, 08 and 11, winning the latter two, before guiding the Bulldogs to deciders in 2012 and 14, losing both.

You can’t win premierships without good players and Hasler celebrated his Manly triumphs with the likes of Brett Stewart, Matt Orford, Anthony Watmough, Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans pulling the strings.

Whether the Titans have got the composition of their squad right is up for debate, but a team with Queensland Origin stars Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, David Fifita, Moeaki Fotuaika and AJ Brimson should be able to trouble most of their NRL rivals.

“You don’t want to compare sides,” Hasler said.

“It’s unfair to categorise and compare players.

“You need a competitive nature. Every single player has got to stand up and lead by their actions. Everybody has to assume that.

“It’s a pretty young and balanced squad. You expect those players to excel. That’s why it’s a pretty exciting time.”

Hasler is evasive when asked how long it will take for the Titans to win a maiden NRL premiership. He’s been around long enough to know the enormity of the task he’s taken on.

But he is adamant the Titans are on the right path, they just need a little guidance to get to where they want to go.

“I’m not going down that minefield,” Hasler said of premiership predictions.

“The fans want to see their side is competitive and having a real go and trying really hard. That’s what our aim is. That’s the next jump.

“I’ve been really happy with the way they’ve taken it on. It was a hard and arduous pre-season and they didn’t buckle or whinge. They hooked into it.

“There’s a real vitality. They are a young squad and have a hunger for it.

“It’s now at the stage where you hand it over to them and they are pretty well prepared for it.”

Originally published as Des Hasler on Manly exit and plan to turn around the Gold Coast Titans