NRL 2022: Manly coach Des Hasler weighs in on stadium drama

As the pride jersey fiasco still lingers at Manly, coach Des Hasler has weighed in on the bunfight over stadium funding.

Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler says it would be “fantastic” for his club to receive the money it was promised to upgrade 4 Pines Park after Manly chair Scott Penn swore he would not stop until they were given the money they were promised.

The club was set to receive around $150m from the NSW government as part of plans to upgrade suburban grounds across Sydney, but that deal is in jeopardy after Premier Dominic Perrottet refused to commit to the handshake agreement.

The NRL and its clubs are not happy with Dominic Perrottet. Picture: David Swift

It’s left a number of clubs furious that their facilities will not be upgraded, with the Sea Eagles left in limbo after much-needed funds were suddenly taken off the table.

In recent developments at 4 Pines Park in Brookvale, a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence has been built as part of the new Bob Fulton Stand, and it had been hoped that the flow of funds from the government would help improve facilities to bring the rest of the ground up to standard.

While Hasler would love to see 4 Pines Park upgraded, he also understands why the government has pressed pause on the deal in order to help flood victims affected by recent natural disasters across the state.

The new stand opened earlier this year. Picture; Adam Yip

“It’d be fantastic,” he said.

“We can all see what the impact the high performance centre has had for the constituents. They’re probably thinking the same at Leichhardt and they’re probably thinking the same at Shark Park.

“It’s a difficult argument, and no doubt, to see grounds finished off (would be nice).

“You can see the impact rugby league has on community and the workforce, so you can see the argument for upgrading grounds.

“But, you also have to recognise that there are other sympathetic needs that they (the government) probably didn’t see coming. It’s a difficult one.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Manly coach Des Hasler weighs in on stadium drama