Sea Eagles announce Des Hasler as coach of Manly for 2019
THE deal is done. Manly Sea Eagles have announced the signing of coach Des Hasler, with the two-time premiership coach returning to Brookvale after a seven-year break up.
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A DETERMINATION to bring back relentless discipline and a steely edge — plus a person with Sea Eagles DNA — has compelled Manly to formally announce Des Hasler as the club’s new head coach.
The Daily Telegraph has been told Hasler has agreed to a three-year deal. He turned up for work at the club’s Narrabeen headquarters on Monday.
“I really missed coaching this year,” Hasler said.
“We are back together now and really looking forward to getting on and coaching.
“The roster is quite strong, we’ve got a good mix of rep players.”
Manly chairman Scott Penn said - ultimately - it was the members who delivered Hasler back to the club.
“We’ve probably been in dialogue on and off over the last three weeks or so,” Penn said.
“We had a really good members session with about 200 members and they were really firm that ideally we have a Manly man in charge.
“We hadn’t had formal discussions with Des at that point but that certainly crystallised our thinking.”
Manly’s eight titles have all been under coaches who have represented the Sea Eagles as players — Hasler (2008, 2011), Bob Fulton (1987, 1996), Ron Willey (1972, 1973) and Frank Stanton (1976, 1978).
It is understood Hasler, does not want outgoing coach Trent Barrett at the club next season as either an assistant or under-20s coach as the Sea Eagles look to avoid paying out their disgruntled coach before he serves out his 12 months notice after resigning last July.
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But Penn wouldn’t be drawn on comments around the former coach except to say Barrett was still employed by the club.
It will be a stunning homecoming for Hasler, one of Manly’s favourite sons as a player and coach.
Manly’s owners and senior officials agree Hasler will instil a strict discipline at the club — and even bring a fear factor for the playing roster.
“Des is a hard core professional. He does have a fear factor about him,” one source said.
“Look at senior coaches like Wayne Bennett, Trent Robinson and Craig Bellamy. They’re feared to some degree by their players. Des has a dominant and respected personality.”
Sea Eagles assistant coach John Cartwright has a deal at the club until 2020 and it’s believed Hasler will work with him. But there is also speculation Canberra are interested in Cartwright, who is great mates with Raiders head coach Ricky Stuart.
Hasler is well aware of Manly’s modest training facilities, having used them when winning NRL premierships in 2008 and 2011.
At one point during his previous reign at Brookvale between 2004 and 2011, Hasler guided Manly to three grand finals in five seasons.
Hasler, 57, also has a strong supporter in Fulton, a Manly Immortal.
“There won’t be any need for wholesale changes,” said another club source. “It will be business as usual. The sooner Des’s deal is announced, the better.”
Hasler, who still lives on Sydney’s northern beaches, will start placing his own imprint on the squad this week.
Cartwright was well in the running for the top job but has missed out. Manly officials claim signing former South Sydney coach Michael Maguire “wouldn’t have worked out”, despite him turning down the job.
The Sea Eagles know Hasler’s unique character and Hasler knows Manly’s rich history and DNA.
Back in 2004, Hasler built the then struggling Sea Eagles into a premiership-winning club and he now has the challenge of repeating that achievement at the same club 15 years later.
Penn and Hasler were unavailable for comment.
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