NRL 2021: Des Hasler under the pump as Manly start season off with heavy defeat to Roosters

Forget John Morris, Manly’s Des Hasler is the NRL coach facing most scrutiny - and it’s not just a hefty first-up defeat to the Roosters which has him in the firing line.

SUNSHINE COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 30: Manly coach Des Hasler arrives at the ground before the start of the round 16 NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and the Manly Sea Eagles at Sunshine Coast Stadium on August 30, 2020 in Sunshine Coast, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Des Hasler is under the pump and fighting to save his coaching career at Manly after a disastrous first-round thumping from the Sydney Roosters.

News Corp can reveal Hasler is yet to sign his multi-million dollar contract extension while tense negotiations continue over strict performance clauses Manly is insisting on.

The veteran coach has now joined the Cronulla Sharks’ John Morris as the men most in danger of being the first coach sacked this season.

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Des Hasler needs results to improve so he can present a better case for a new contract.

Hasler’s manager George Mimis and Sea Eagles chief executive Stephen Humphreys have been stalled over several months about the length of the contract and termination options.

Hasler wanted a three-year deal. Manly agreed but only with performance clauses that would allow the contract to be terminated at any time.

The other option discussed was a rolling year-by-year contract, identical to the deal Nathan Brown had at the Newcastle Knights before he was sacked and paid out for six months.

Manly is obviously trying to avoid a repeat of Hasler’s messy departure from the Canterbury Bulldogs when he took legal action to get a $1 million payout.

They are also not prepared to risk another Trent Barrett situation where he was left on the pay roll for 12 months after handing in his resignation.

Plus all the clubs have learnt from the Broncos’ hefty payout to Anthony Seibold last year.

Manly couldn’t have got off to a worse start to the season.

Humphreys was guarded when approached for comment on Sunday.

“Des is in the final year of a three-year contract,” Humphreys said.

“We’ve been discussing the situation beyond this year for a little while now, but at this stage it is unresolved. I have no other comment to make.”

Manly insist this is not just a snap decision.

Obviously Saturday’s 46-4 flogging from the Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground hasn’t helped.

There has been concern for much longer about the long-term future.

Another tough day at the office for Daly Cherry-Evans and Manly.

The club finished 13th last season and has made a number of recruitment blunders.

Should Manly fail to reach an agreement with Hasler, it would almost certainly end his 17-year coaching career in which he delivered two premierships in 2008 and 2011 at Manly.

The obvious contenders are Shane Flanagan, Craig Fitzgibbon and Panthers assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo.

They would become the fourth new coach in six years following on from Geoff Toovey, Trent Barrett and Hasler.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Des Hasler under the pump as Manly start season off with heavy defeat to Roosters