NRL 2022: Manly Sea Eagles open to extending Des Hasler contract amid key meeting

Des Hasler is expected to miss a crucial meeting to decide his future at Manly, however Sea Eagles bosses have revealed the coach could extend his stay at the club.

Daly Cherry-Evans.

Manly chair and majority owner Scott Penn has hinted that an extended deal could be in the offing for Des Hasler provided the Sea Eagles coach can demonstrate a clear succession plan for the future.

Penn confirmed to News Corp that the club was ready to discuss Hasler’s desire for an extension at a meeting on Thursday - which Hasler may opt not to attend - but they also wanted to see a plan for his eventual departure.

It has already been reported that Hasler’s camp is open to the idea of a succession plan which would eventually see him move away from head coaching duties, making way for one of his assistants or a credentialed coach from outside the club.

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Des Hasler is a man under pressure after Manly’s horror finish to the season.

Current assistants Steve Hales and Chad Randall would head the queue of internal successors, although the latter is expected to join Canterbury and work alongside Cameron Ciraldo next season.

External options include Sydney Roosters assistant Jason Ryles, Cronulla and Queensland assistant Josh Hannay and South Sydney’s Ben Hornby.

North Queensland assistant Dean Young would also be in the frame, although he is expected to eventually replace Anthony Griffin at St George Illawarra.

“We’re happy to extend if we have a clear succession plan,” Penn told News Corp.

“That’s all we have been looking for, as any business would. This is the exact discussion we want to have. No-one is saying he’s not going to get an extension.

“We’re just saying this is the start of the discussion tomorrow.”

Hasler is expected to skip the early part of Thursday’s meeting, leaving initial talks to be conducted between his long-time agent George Mimis, Manly chief executive Tony Mestrov and Penn.

But Manly are open to extending - not ending - Hasler’s coaching career if he can come up with a clear sucession plan. Picture: NCA Newswire.

Hasler will only join the meeting if those talks indicate that the parties are heading in a united direction. It goes without saying that the meeting shapes as one of the most signifiant in the club’s recent history.

Hasler is believed to be considering walking away from the club he loves due to years of instability within the leadership structure at the Sea Eagles.

Manly in return are putting pressure on Hasler after failing to make this year’s finals. He is contracted until the end of 2023 and there is no guarantee he will be offered a contract for 2024 or beyond.

However, the Sea Eagles hierarchy know that Hasler has high-profile player support and the decision to sever ties would impact the dressing room.

The Daily Telegraph can also reveal that any suggestion that Hasler’s coaching staff will be sacked or that Mestrov or Penn will dictate who he appoints is a moot point.

Hasler has the power of autonomy over who is part of his staff written into his contract. The decision for Hasler to skip the early part of the meeting is designed to remove his emotions from the room.

Hasler is also desperate for support and genuine leadership from senior management. The club has been mired by a chocolate wheel of chief executives, including six different figure heads in eight years.

Manly chair Scott Penn insists there is no lingering bad blood from Hasler’s previous stint at the Sea Eagles. Picture: Getty Images.

The club’s rainbow jersey controversy has been cited as an example of the club’s lack of leadership. However, Penn insisted comments around a leadership void were wide of the mark.

As for his relationship with Hasler, Penn dismissed talk there was any lingering bad blood after the coach walked out on the club more than a decade ago.

“That is rubbish,” Penn said.

“Who rang him from Europe to bring him back (to the club)? I was the one who picked up the phone.”

Hasler has been trying since last November to set-up a succession plan that would see him step back following the 2023 or 2024 season in a process to help guide an understudy as the club’s next NRL coach.

If Mestrov and Penn can placate Hasler’s concerns, the passionate Manly man is likely to stay. Hasler played 303 games for Manly and has coached the club to an incredible 305 games - only two less than the record of former premiership-winning coach and immortal Bob Fulton.

Revealed: Damning questions put to Manly players

Manly’s survey saga has deepened after it emerged that the players had not only been asked to anonymously rate the coaching of Des Hasler, but also the captaincy credentials of skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.

News Corp has obtained the 40 questions players were asked to fill out on their season exits and several were in relation to the leadership of the club. It is believed players have opted against filling out the survey.

Revelations that players were being asked to rate the performance of Cherry-Evans comes amid a push from some to have Jake Trbojevic appointed as skipper next season.

• The level of trust they have in their captain and vice-captain;

• The quality and frequency of their communication with their captain and vice-captain;

• Their satisfaction with the player leadership group;

• How much respect they have for their head coach;

• The extent to which I feel listened to by the coach and teammates;

• The knowledge of the head coach.

The players were also asked to rate the idea of a succession plan, which has been floated as a potential solution to the current coaching conundrum involving Hasler.

The survey was devised by the Sea Eagles’ football department without the knowledge of chief executive Tony Mestrov.

Sources told News Corp it was done to help the coaching staff with their personal development and to ensure that any issues within the football club came to their attention.

Hasler, a two-time premiership winner, has one year remaining on his deal with the Sea Eagles and the club is reluctant to extend his contract until they see how Manly begins next season.

It is understood Hasler would be open to a succession plan, although the options for potential replacements within the current coaching structure is dwindling.

Assistant Steven Hales is seen as the next in line by some within the club and he may be the last man standing given Hasler’s coaching staff is on the verge of being picked apart as rival clubs graze on their assistants.

Daly Cherry-Evans’ leadership had to be rated.

News Corp understands that Chad Randall is on the verge of confirming a move to Canterbury, where he would join Cameron Ciraldo as part of a new-look coaching department.

It is understood Canberra has been contacted about whether they would be interested in hiring another of Hasler’s assistants – Michael Monaghan.

That could leave Hales as the last man standing, although it is understood the club has tentatively put together a list of potential alternatives should Hasler decide to walk away from the job.

Sea Eagles powerbrokers and their coach are scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss the future and there has been speculation that Hasler may leave of his own volition if the club attempts to dilute his power or force change on him.

Manly players and officials gathered for a function on Monday night to mark the end of their season, which culminated in seven successive losses and a finals absence.

Hooker Lachlan Croker claimed the Roy Bull Award as the club’s best and fairest player for 2022. Departing veteran Kieran Foran was the winner of the NRL players’ player award while Cherry-Evans took out the Gordon Willoughby Medallion for the best player, as voted by the Manly members.

Foran said he was shocked to receive the honour but it was something he would cherish as he prepared to leave Manly and join the Gold Coast Titans next season.

“To be voted by my teammates as a player they can rely on and a consistent performer is just the sort of player I want to be,” Foran said.

“It is a pretty cool honour.”