Manly Sea Eagles’ survey revealed: ‘New coach’ question put to players

Manly players were given an anonymous 40 question survey as part of an end-of-season review which it could have major ramifications for Des Hasler. Read the questions here.

Des Hasler’s position at the club is under threat.

Manly’s football department have asked their players to fill out an anonymous survey which is expected to show whether coach Des Hasler still has the support of the playing group.

News Corp understands the players were asked to undertake the survey as part of the end-of-season reviews, which began on Monday only hours before the club’s presentation night at The Star.

Chief executive Tony Mestrov said he was unaware of the survey until he was contacted by a third party. He said he was looking into the matter, which has emerged as the club grapples with revelations of internal bickering and player dissent following a miserable end to the season.

Hasler’s future has come under the spotlight as he prepares to meet senior club officials later this week to discuss his future – he has one year left on his deal but has been agitating for an extension.

Manly chair and owner Scott Penn told News Corp at the weekend that Hasler would need to earn a new deal by starting next season strongly.

It is understood the players were asked to complete a 40-question survey as part of an inquest into a disappointing season.

It is believed the review was conducted by the football department.

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Des Hasler’s position at the club is under threat.

It is understood the questions included:

* How the players would feel about a new coach in 2023;

* Their thoughts surrounding the assistant coaches and the roles they play;

* What they thought of the club’s support staff;

* The level of support they received from the club this year; and

* General questions surrounding the pride jersey fiasco.

It is understood the survey was designed to help Hasler and his coaching staff with their personal development, as well as give them some insight into the mood of the playing group after a difficult season.

It was also structured to give the players the opportunity to flag any concerns with their coaches or teammates anonymously, thereby alerting the coaches to any problems that may exist within the squad.

The players met at Brookvale for a Mad Monday gathering on Sunday but it’s believed only half the squad attended the event.

There is expected to be change at the Sea Eagles after News Corp’s revelations that the club threatened to be ripped apart by factional bickering and disagreements over the Sea Eagles’ strategic direction.

Former Manly player Peter Peters has been a critic of the club in recent months and has strong ties to the Fulton family, who are believed to be at odds with Hasler over their strategic direction.

He also insisted he had been upfront with Hasler – the pair have been friends for a long time and Peters said they remained close.

“Of course he is and he always will be (a friend),” Peters said.

“But we will always clash on football issues. I feel as though I am being painted as a shadowy figure in the background but anything I have said to Des on the phone – I have said that the buck stops with him, which is true, he is the coach – or I have said it on radio, which he has had access to.

“I don’t have anything to hide. I have been open and right out in front with everything I have said.”

Meanwhile, Manly were still feeling the repercussions of News Corp’s revelations at the weekend of internal dissension at the club.

Radio heavyweight Ray Hadley, who is close to the Fulton family, claimed a divide in the playing group involving Daly Cherry-Evans occurred because the captain was allowed to stay in separate accommodation last year when the competition was relocated to Queensland.

Sea Eagles players took a survey as part of the club’s end-of-season review. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty

“There was apparently special dispensation given to Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans to live away from the bubble in a house,” Hadley said on 2GB.

“(It was) completely legal but that did not go down too well with other players. You had the coach (Hasler) allowing the captain to be special and live in a house away from the rest of the players.

“That created a divide. They tell me that it created a divide and that divide was well before the rainbow jumper round, well before it.

“To try and trace it back to happening around the rainbow jumper round is ridiculous. It happened when Des Hasler decided as the coach to allow the captain to live elsewhere and some of the players were upset about it and continue to be upset about it.”

It is understood that Cherry-Evans footed the bill for the accommodation himself.

Originally published as Manly Sea Eagles’ survey revealed: ‘New coach’ question put to players