Des Hasler facing the axe at Gold Coast Titans over NRL contract clause

Premiership winning coach Des Hasler appears to be in a huge fight to retain his job at the Titans due to a key contract clause.

Des Hasler’s days appeared numbered at the Gold Coast Titans.

The 64-year-old is in the second year of a three-year deal on the Gold Coast strip, but results have been slow to turn around for the NRL battlers.

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The Titans finished 14th last year with an 8-16 win-loss record and have started the new season with just two wins from eight matches to date.

Speaking on Fox League’s NRL360, The Daily Telegraph journalist Michael Carayannis said Hasler needs to oversee a drastic change in form for him to retain his job beyond 2025.

Carayannis believes the Titans have to play finals football this season, which appears a highly improbable task, for Hasler to extend his stint with the club.

Des Hasler is reportedly under pressure to retain his job at the Titans. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“Massive news regarding Des Hasler’s future at the Gold Coast Titans,” Carayannis said.

“He originally signed a three-year deal until at least the end of next season, but there’s clauses in his deal and one of those is a top-eight clause.

“If he doesn’t make the top eight this year, the Titans are under no obligation to keep him at the club next yet.

“I think we can all agree, they’re long odds to make the top eight.

“There’s another element to it, potentially when they are mathematically no chance of playing finals footy, they could split ways immediately.

“There’s a lot to play out there on the Gold Coast.”

The Titans are battling a five-game losing run. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Following a first up loss to the Bulldogs, the Gold Coast reeled off wins over Newcastle and the Roosters in a promising start to the new campaign.

The Titans have fallen in a hole since then, however, losing five straight games, including a 50-18 thrashing against the Cowboys in round eight.

Hasler has a long and distinguished coaching career in the NRL, leading Manly to two premierships and enjoying a 55 per cent winning record from two stints at the Sea Eagles, one with the Bulldogs and now with the Titans.

But his most recent roles with Manly and Canterbury ended on horrible terms and Carayannis believes that’s why the Titans inserted certain clauses to his deal.

Gold Coast Titans chief executive Steve Mitchell. Picture: Mitch Bourke.

“I think it’s some shrewd management from the Gold Coast Titans,” he said.

“We’ve seen Des Hasler end up in the courtroom with his past two clubs and it hasn’t ended very well.

“This is a way to safeguard them and if Des has success, and he still might, well he gets next year.

“If not, it’s a decision the club has control over and that’s not something that has happened around Des Hasler’s future at the past couple of clubs.”

The Titans are currently embroiled in drama with star recruit David Fifita, who also appears to be on his way out of the club.

Hasler called a snap press conference to discuss Fifita on Wednesday, but faced questions over his own future.

David Fifita (left) is also under pressure at the Titans. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Asked if he still believes in himself as a coach, Hasler scoffed and said: “Yes.

“I enjoy coaching and while I enjoy coaching, I’ll continue to coach.”

NRL great Gorden Tallis, who has been directly involved with the Titans in recent years, conceded he expected better results under Hasler.

“Signing someone like Dessie Hasler, he would overhaul the roster … I thought in the second year we’d have a bit more optimism,” he said.

“Kieran Foran hasn’t played, Keano Kini’s been injured, Tino (Fa’asuamaleaui) has been suspended, but I thought we’d be at a higher position on the field.”

The Titans face the Knights in Newcastle on Friday night, followed by clashes against Raiders, Storm and Broncos.