Manly Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler reportedly fighting to save career
Manly coach Des Hasler is reportedly fighting to save his career after the Sea Eagles suffered an embarrassing loss in round one.
Manly coach Des Hasler is reportedly fighting to save his career after the Sea Eagles suffered an embarrassing 42-point loss in round one of the NRL premiership.
The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield reported that Manly and Hasler are wrangling over a new contract, with talks stalling after Saturday afternoon’s match at the SCG.
The Sea Eagles were thumped by the Sydney Roosters 46-4 to get their 2021 season off to a horrific start.
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“First game of the year, you expect a better result and performance,” Hasler told reporters after the game.
“I thought our edges, defensively we missed too many tackles.
“I thought in the middle we were matching it. I thought we did pretty well there.
“I feel a bit sorry for the fans in particular.
“We need to give a better account of ourselves individually and for the club and the fans. We need to make that pretty quickly.”
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The Daily Telegraph reported that Hasler is yet to sign a contract extension as tense negotiations continue over performance clauses.
The 60-year-old is currently in the final season of a three-year contract with the club.
According to the report, Hasler was eager for another three-year deal, which Manly would only allow if the contract could be terminated at any time.
Hasler coached the Sea Eagles for eight seasons between 2004 and 2011, winning two NRL premierships with the Sydney-based club.
He then took charge of the Canterbury Bulldogs for six years before a messy divorce, where the coach took legal action to get a $1 million payout.
Manly finished 13th on the NRL ladder last year, winning only seven games in the 20-round season.
The club has struggled without superster fullback Tom Trbojevic, without whom it boasts a pitiful 29 per cent win rate under Hasler’s guidance.
The Sea Eagles will next face the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Brookvale Oval on Saturday afternoon.
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