Weekend Read: Why former Manly coach Des Hasler made phone calls to journalists

They would come out of the blue and with a friendly warning. BRENT READ lifts the lid on the phone calls journalists received from Des Hasler, and why the former Manly coach made them.

Former Manly coach Des Hasler.

Over the years, it has happened to just about every journalist in the game. You’ll be quietly going about your business when out of the blue, the phone will ring and Des Hasler will be on the other end of the line.

Hasler isn’t calling to rant or rave. He’s calling with some friendly advice about how you can be a better journalist. How you can maintain your credibility in a game where earning respect is difficult and maintaining it is even harder.

It happened to this journalist for the first time about 10 years or so ago. Can’t remember the exact details but it went something like this. I had suggested on radio that one of the Morris twins deserved to be suspended after a tackle went wrong.

Des Hasler always worked the phones. Picture: Brett Costello

Hasler wasn’t happy but rather than let rip, he suggested a few things I could do to lift my game. He warned me to be careful because a reputation can take years to build and then be gone in a flash.

Some would no doubt suggest Hasler’s words were wasted. Regardless, most reporters in the game have received a similar phone call from Hasler at some point.

Des, in that unique style of his, getting his point across in a way that challenges you. His way of planting the seed so you think twice before you write something again about one of his players or his club.

He is fiercely protective of both, which explains why he takes everything so personally when it comes to Manly. The last time we spoke was about a month ago when I got a phone call from Hasler after stories began to emerge of the fractures at the Sea Eagles.

The same fractures that have ended Hasler’s tenure on Sydney’s northern beaches, a place where he has become an iconic figure over two stints in charge of the club he once represented as a player.

This time, there was a touch of ranting and a modicum of raving. Hasler wasn’t happy about his players being contacted to get their thoughts on the tenuous situation.

He thought we were stirring trouble. Looking for something that wasn’t there. Turns out it was there after all. Manly have reached the crossroads and Hasler’s time has come to an end.

It’s an inglorious climax to one of the great alliances and the ripple effect is set to impact some of the biggest names in the game.

There has been talk of Daly Cherry-Evans and the Trbojevic boys – Tom and Jake – being upset with the shenanigans around Hasler. Others suggest they have been taken along for the ride, informed of every step by club powerbrokers.

It will be intriguing to watch how the decision is accepted by the wider Sea Eagles family. Manly and Des were made for each other.

To steal a line from Forrest Gump, they were like peas and carrots. Hasler has endured a host of chief executives, changing ownership and a flotilla of players.

He has kept Manly punching above their weight for most of his tenure but the situation has become toxic to the point of no return. Two premierships adorn the Sea Eagles’ trophy cabinet, thanks in large part to Hasler, but even that hasn’t been enough to stop the walls closing in on one of the game’s great characters.

Manly centrepieces Tom and Jake Trbojevic. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

He has been equal parts eccentric and amusing. He has been a source of frustration and fun. His shtick has become predictable, but no less absorbing.

He turns up for press conferences and pokes fun at his favourite’s journalists’ shoes or dress sense. On other occasions, he uses the media conference to remind us all who is in charge.

At some point, he will ask one of his inquisitors to raise their voice. “Sorry, can you speak up.” It was Hasler’s way of reminding everyone that he is the boss.

After asking his inquisitors to raise their voice, Hasler then returned to his own hushed tones that left you leaning forward in your seat. Interestingly, it was at one of those press conferences where the cracks between Hasler and Manly became irrecoverable.

Hasler was rightly lauded for the way he fronted the media in the wake of the pride jersey fiasco, yet it has proven his undoing.

Des was fiercely protective of his players, like Josh and Brett Morris at Canterbury. Picture: Gregg Porteous

While the wider rugby league public sung Hasler’s praises, the nine-minute address wasn’t as well received by those within the corridors of power at Manly.

They believed they had an agreement that Hasler would make some key points and move on. Instead, fingers were pointed at Manly’s most powerful figures over the pride jersey debacle.

The tension has been simmering for months. Had Hasler been able to right the ship and Manly finish the season in a blaze of glory, everyone would likely have moved on.

Instead, Manly lost a string of games and the pressure intensified on Hasler and the club. Hasler’s time at Manly came to an end on Thursday. He will be missed on Sydney’s northern beaches. Life was never dull with Des around.