How Des Hasler moulded Manly misfits into top-four contenders

They were so unheralded, even the Gold Coast Titans didn’t want them. Meet Manly’s rag-tag bunch of unknowns and outcasts driving the Sea Eagles’ unlikely charge up the NRL premiership ladder.

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They were so unheralded and unwanted, even the hapless Gold Coast Titans didn’t want them.

Meet Manly’s Des-perados, a rag-tag bunch of unknowns and outcasts driving the Sea Eagles’ unlikely charge up the NRL premiership ladder.

Former Titans players Brendan Elliot, Kane Elgey and Morgan Boyle are among this mishmash Manly side, who get the chance to show their former club what they let go when they face off on Friday night.

The Sea Eagles were tipped to battle it out for the club’s first ever wooden spoon this season, but instead they are fifth on the competition with six deserved wins.

Brad Parker is one of those unheralded Sea Eagles. Image: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Driven by the likes of Brad Parker, Jack Gosiewski, Lachlan Croker, Reuben Garrick, Corey Waddell, Cade Cust, Moses Suli, Abbas Miski, Manase Fainu, Kelepi Tanginoa and Toafofoa Sipley.

This patchwork team, put together by the son of an Immortal, Scott Fulton, has recorded wins over top-four sides South Sydney and Canberra, to go with last weekend’s upset victory over the Sharks in Cronulla.

The Gold Coast didn’t offer Elliot a new deal, while Elgey was told to look elsewhere. Boyle was dumped after this season started and only signed with Manly late last month.

Their loss has been Manly’s gain.

Kane Elgey jumped at the chance to join Manly. Image: Matt King/Getty Images

“For me there is no beef at all,” Elgey said. “I am really excited to play my mates. It will be good.”

From Souths to St George Illawarra, the Warriors to Wentworthville, the Sea Eagles have scrounged together this no-frills squad who are playing for each other, the club and coach Des Hasler.

Hasler has done a remarkable job cobbling together a mixed collection, all while Manly exist without stars Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans. Suspended Dylan Walker only returned last week.

Sipley has a season-ending knee injury and Tanginoa will end up at Wakefield in England, but both have played a role this season.

Manly have come together in the face of adversity. Image: Brett Costello

Fulton, Manly’s recruitment officer, signed many of the current squad with Hasler and club head of recruitment Noel Cleal only arriving back at Brookvale this year.

“They are certainly a team on the rise,” Fulton said. “It has all come off. At the start, you never know how it’s going to play out. But everything has come to fruition.

“We have had a lot of success in transitioning and plucking players from other clubs.

“Des has got them going really well. We have a lesser squad this year because Shaun Lane and Brian Kelly have gone but Des has shown faith in the young blokes we do have.

“We always knew they could play and the results are showing which are probably well above previous people’s expectations, which has been very satisfying.”

Des Hasler knows how to get the best out of his players. Image: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Cleal was full of praise for Hasler, Fulton and the squad’s high-energy search for an opportunity.

“Without getting the opportunity, they would probably die with all that potential still in them. Some of them have probably never got the opportunity before,” said Cleal.

“They have been given a chance and grabbed it with some great guidance from Des and his coaching staff. They have made a fist of it, especially in the absence of Tommy and Cherry. Des knows what he is doing and the players have bought in.

“The staff and players deserve all the credit in the world. Scott Fulton has done a good job getting these players together. Des doesn’t just bring out the best in his players but also the staff and administration — the whole shooting match.

“He is also very tight with the players away from football. You only have to see what he does for the players that never get a mention. He really cares for his players and staff.”

Manly chairman and majority shareholder, Scott Penn, has been delighted at his club’s unexpected start to the season, saying: “We have some really positive momentum.”