NRL 2021: Des Hasler re-signs with Manly, Rabbitohs firm on Adam Reynolds | Sport Confidential
Under fire for offering their skipper just a one-year deal the Rabbitohs are sticking to their guns, leaving Adam Reynolds with a big decision to make.
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Des Hasler needs to make the finals this year to guarantee his position at the Sea Eagles in 2023.
The Sea Eagles announced a contract extension on Thursday night for the respected mentor but after months of negotiations we can reveal the intriguing finer details of the deal.
Hasler – whose contract was due to expire at the end of this year — will be Manly’s coach next season – regardless of where his team finishes this year.
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However as part of the negotiations, a performance clause has been inserted into this season’s deal. What that means is Hasler can extend his contract into 2023 but needs to finish in the top eight this year to do so.
It is understood performance clauses will mean the deal could be further extended into 2024 should the Sea Eagles become a genuine premiership threat.
The deal is a smart one for the Sea Eagles. Good performance will be rewarded but they ensure they aren’t forced to payout an exorbitant amount to Hasler should things sour.
After last weekend’s resounding loss to the Roosters, the Sea Eagles are going to need a dramatic change in fortune to ensure they don’t miss the finals for a second straight year.
The Sea Eagles are $2.60 to finish in the top eight.
“I am very glad to have the opportunity to continue working with this high calibre group of players we have now and those who will emerge in the near future through our Pathways Program,’’ Hasler said in a statement on Thursday night. “I am confident of delivering further success to the Manly club. There is a great future ahead for the Sea Eagles.”
Also at the Sea Eagles, a few people’s eyebrows were raised when they reached an agreement with highly regarded but injured ex-Warriors hooker Karl Lawton.
The Sea Eagles have landed a real bargain in Lawton, paying next to nothing this year and a heavily discounted amount next year.
The Warriors reluctantly agreed to the deal as they were desperate to create a roster space. Lawton provides much needed cover for the Sea Eagles who are confident he will make a full recovery from a torn Achilles around round 10.
SOUTHS HOLD FIRM ON REYNOLDS DEAL
South Sydney aren’t preparing to up their one-year contract extension to Adam Reynolds which now leaves the Rabbitohs skipper with a decision to make.
Reynolds has made it clear he wants a multi-year deal – up to three years – but would be willing to accept a two-year contract having already rejected the club’s one year proposal.
The one-year extension was put on the table two weeks ago but there has been little movement since then, with the club standing firm on their intention to maintain the initial 12-month offer.
There was some suggestion the Rabbitohs were preparing to offer Reynolds a two-year deal – or at least a one-year deal with an option for a second year in their favour on the table – but it is understood that is unlikely at this stage.
Reynolds originally said he was preparing to meet with the club again last week. That meeting has yet to happen and there is nothing scheduled in the short term.
So at 30, Reynolds is now at the crossroads and faces the very real prospect of leaving his junior club unless he is prepared to take a year-on-year deal or the Rabbitohs have a dramatic change of heart. Already burnt by rich payouts to Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess who failed to play-out their deals, the Rabbitohs are taking a conservative approach with their skipper.
DALLY M VOTING REVAMP
The NRL has revamped the Dally M voting process, ruling out judges who have a current affiliation with a club.
That means panel members such as Darren Lockyer (Broncos), Andrew Johns (Eels), Luke Lewis (Sharks) and Greg Alexander (Panthers) will no longer be able to vote when their teams play.
The NRL has made the move to rule out anyone who has a direct relationship with a club – be it as a contractor, employee or director. Players who played for a club but have no current role will still be able to vote.
This follows the round one decision to ask Lockyer, a Broncos director, to vote on Brisbane’s match against Parramatta while Lewis judged Cronulla’s win against St George Illawarra.
Lewis also covers matches for ABC Grandstand who made the decision not to have the two-time premiership winner hand out player of the year points for their award when Cronulla play.
Sideline-eye Johnny Gibbs gave out the 3-2-1 for the ABC last Sunday.
No one questioned the points Lockyer or Lewis gave out. Up until COVID hit last year, the NRL had a rule that judges must be at games but that has now been scrapped.
The NRL launched a review into the Dally M voting process during the off-season but at this stage have opted against any widespread change.
There was also an error in the delivery of the votes from the Panthers/Cowboys match. James Fisher-Harris was the man of the match but was only given one vote with Dylan Edwards given the three. The correct tally was Fisher-Harris (three), Nathan Cleary (two) and Edwards (one).
DOSE OF REALITY FOR SIMPKIN
Wests Tigers rookie Jake Simpkin is yet to make a name for himself on the field but he is certainly making a splash off it after going public with his reality-television girlfriend. The highly-fancied dummy half is dating Love Island Australia contestant Cartier Surjan. Surjan was named runner-up on season two of the dating show. The Queensland-born Simpkin is contracted to the Tigers until the end of next year.
NADEN SIDELINED AGAIN
Already on a club-enforced first grade ban for four weeks, Brent Naden has been hit with a two-game suspension on his return to reserve grade. Naden was banned for a crusher tackle in an eventful round-one match which also saw him sin-binned while playing fullback in a separate incident.
WORLD CHAMPS READY TO RUMBLE
Two former world champions, Sakio Bika and Sam Soliman, will face off for a third time in the main undercard bout to the Tim Tszyu vs Dennis Hogan show on March 31.
We can reveal that after weeks of negotiations, Bika and Soliman have agreed to fight over eights rounds at a catchweight of 75kg, to end their feud which stands at one win each.
It is a huge addition to the Tszyu-Morgan undercard at Newcastle Entertainment Centre and will mark Bika’s first professional bout in more than three years after a string of opposition pullouts.
The hard-hitting Bika was scheduled to fight a fortnight ago but the bout was scrapped moments from the walkout because his opponent could not produce his medical records blue book.
Now, former WBC World super-middleweight champion Bika (34-7-3, 22KO) gets his chance to make a statement return against former IBF middleweight champion Soliman (46-14-1, 19KO).
Soliman defeated Bika via majority decision in 2002, before the Cameroon-born slugger turned the tables with a points win over eight rounds in 2007 in the semi-final of The Contender series. Bika won the overall series with a TKO of Jaidon Codrington in the final.
Bika and Soliman recorded wins in their previous bouts.
COURTNEY LOOKING FOR LOVE AGAIN
After splitting with girlfriend Kyly Clarke, Supercars driver James Courtney has been spotted looking for love on a dating app while moving into a new bachelor pad.
Courtney’s profile has popped up on the app Raya, largely used by celebrities and the wealthy, and he’s now moved into a swanky singles spot on the Gold Coast.
Courtney and Clarke, ex-wife of Test cricket captain Michael Clarke, announced their romance on social media last October, but had split by December.
We’ll see if Courtney has been buoyed by a rebound romance when he takes the track this weekend at the Sandown SuperSprint, to be shown live on Fox Sports.
Michael Clarke’s post-marriage romance with fashion designer Pip Edwards ended amicably last month, after less than 12 months together.
SPRINT KINGS JOIN FORCES
They were set to be business rivals, but sprint legend John Steffensen and race coaching guru Roger Fabri have teamed up to form a dynamic duo used by high profile athletes.
“Most people assumed we’d be rivals but we have tremendous respect for each other, and we want to give back to the community with our combined knowledge,” Steffensen said.
Fabri has been a speed mentor to several NRL stars, and has most recently started working with banned Cronulla Sharks player Bronson Xerri, who faces four years out of the game for a doping offence.
Steffensen is working closely with tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt and his son Cruz, who is looking to emulate his dad on the tennis court.
But the pair are also holding a camp for children aged 10 years and over, who are keen to become the next fastest footballer or Olympic medallist like Steffensen.
The sprint clinic will be held on April 8 at Latham Park, Coogee, and costs $150 with tickets through EventBrite.
ALL EYES ON
Just how Des Hasler’s men respond to their first-up embarrassing loss to Manly. The coach has been in the news this week and they get a tough test against South Sydney who are smarting from their own round one loss.
FLASHBACK
Ryan Tandy was sacked from the Bulldogs for his involvement in a betting scandal on this day 10 years ago. “The club formed the view that it was untenable for Mr Tandy to remain employed by the club and continue to be paid his salary,” then Bulldogs boss Todd Greenberg said. On the field, the Panthers beat the Eels 20-6 a week after losing 42-9 to Newcastle.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
CLIFF LYONS 332 top grade games (23 with North Sydney, 309 with Manly) from 1985-1999 plus six Tests for Australia and six games for NSW.
Cliffy Lyons almost ended up a Western Red. In the midst of the Super League war, the Manly entertainer was courted by the new franchise in the lead-up to their inaugural 1995 season. Lyons was seriously tempted by the offer but in the end just couldn’t walk out on his beloved Manly.
“I was pretty close to going,” Lyons said. “I very nearly did it. It was for a lot more money. But at the end of the day I just didn’t want to go somewhere and restart. Thinking about it now I’m so glad I didn’t go.
“We ended up winning the grand final the next year so it was a good decision to stay.”
Other Super League-bound clubs nibbled at Lyons’ but that was the only real time he contemplated leaving the Sea Eagles after joining them in 1986.
The Cronulla junior left the left the Sharks in 1981 unable to crack a first grade spot and without a contract offer elsewhere he decided to go play country rugby league. Lyons’ former Cronulla teammate, Royce George, was captain-coach with Gundagai Tigers in 1982 and enticed Lyons to the club.
Lyons was convinced he would play out his time in regional areas before Greg Hawick was given the North Sydney coaching job. Hawick had watched Lyons play for Gundagai and offered him an opportunity at the Bears in 1985. Lyons made his first grade debut after one reserve grade game. But when Hawick was sacked Lyons wanted out.
“I had a manager – Richard Fisk,” Lyons said. “Richard was talking to Easts for me and was organising for me to go there. At the same time Greg introduced me to (Manly boss) Doug Daley. After talking to them I signed right there and then. Arthur Beetson wasn’t happy that I didn’t go to Easts.”
The NRL Hall of Fame inductee had a stellar Sea Eagles career which included a premiership and Clive Churchill Medal in his second season.
Lyons retired in 1999 but had intensions to play on until his 39th birthday.
“I always wanted to play in the 2000 season,” Lyons said. “I got close. It was my goal but they didn’t want to sign me for one more season.”
Lyons played his final game in the Manly local competition for Narraweena in 2008 when rivals “finally started to catch up with me”. He dabbled in coaching lower grades at the Sea Eagles.
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