Reports Des Hasler may quit after Manly make moves after horror season fade out

The Pride jersey furore may still be playing out at the Manly Sea Eagles after reports the biggest domino may still be set to fall.

Des Hasler could have coached his final match for Manly. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Manly’s horrific end to the season may see the end of head coach Des Hasler, according to reports.

The Daily Telegraph have reported Hasler will have to accept a “raft of changes” or move on as the club management and the experienced coach are set to meet this week.

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The report states: “It is understood the meeting will dictate if Hasler remains in charge with suggestions he has lost the support of the club’s senior management. Hasler can either accept the recommended changes or those close to him have indicated he may elect to quit the club despite having 12 months left on his contract.”

The Sea Eagles are reportedly looking at moving on the likes of assistance coaches Michael Monaghan and Chad Randall, as well as the likes of Noel Cleal and Don Singe, who are close to Hasler.

Randall had been linked to a move to the Bulldogs as part of Cameron Ciraldo’s staff.

New Sea Eagles boss Tony Mestrov said the performances had revealed the necessity for change.

“Because of the team performance, we have to be open to change,” Mestrov told The Daily Telegraph. “If I came in and we were finishing sixth, I don’t think there would be the leverage to make change. But everything has been fast-tracked because of the performances.

“The owners want what I want – to have a successful football club, be financially better off and deliver what the fans and board want, which is a successful football team.

“The dynamics are not working at the moment and that means decisions have to be made. I wouldn’t call it a review. There won’t be a review. There will be discussions about how we can improve. I don’t think it is anything other than that. But we have to do something because the end to this season has been disappointing.”

This season turned into a horror movie for Hasler. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

It’s been a horrific end to the season for Manly, who were still in finals contention in round 20 when the season imploded on the back of the club’s Pride jersey debacle.

The drama saw seven players withdraw from the match and reportedly create factions in the sheds as the Sea Eagles lost their last seven games to finish the season in 11th, likely five wins out of finals contention.

Although the club also had injuries to key players including star fullback and reigning Dally M Medallist Tom Trbojevic, the jersey drama was clearly the turning point of the season as the club fell sharply away at the end of the season.

Coach Des Hasler fronted the media during the round 20 furore and was widely praised for his press conference as he apologised on behalf for the club, but revealed it was a club decision where players and coaches weren’t consulted.

When questioned about why they hasn’t been consulted, Hasler said: “You’ll have to talk to management about that, I can’t answer that.”

Some of the Manly Seven also landed in hot water after they were called out for supporting convicted teammate Manase Fainu, who was jailed over the stabbing a Mormon church youth leader in 2019.

Late last month, Nine journalist Danny Weidler said Hasler’s position was “safe” but there was “anger brewing about their performances”.

Club legend Max Krilich also said Hasler has “probably had his time”.

The jersey that caused so much drama. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Fans loved it. Photo: Tim Pascoe

Speaking on Fox League, Greg Alexander said the entire club was “at a crossroads”.

“The last month and a half has been extremely disappointing, they’ve been beaten and beaten by big scores,” he said.

“To lose their last six or seven games, that puts pressure on anyone.

“The headline was ‘If Des doesn’t accept change’ … I think they’re talking about the change around Des. Des might be safe but those around him mightn’t.”

Cooper Cronk said he believed it was “a power play”.

“Des like control, he is Manly what he’s done, you can’t deny that over his history there,” Cronk said.

“The last six weeks have been poor but new CEO, ownership they want control of what’s happen too. I don’t think there’ll be a good resolution here until they sit down and work it out.”

On Triple M, rugby league reporter Dave Riccio labelled it a “powder keg scenario” as Hasler and his team push for a succession plan.

“When he was attempting to become basically a mentor for the next coach in waiting at Manly, that has been going on since November and it has proven absolutely fruitless,” Riccio said on Saturday.

“The board haven’t moved whatsoever on it and it’s led to this scenario where I believe next week a discussion will be held to determine whether he coaches the club next year.

“It is based upon Manly management forcing a raft of changes upon Des, around his staff, I think we will see some significant movement.

While ever we see management making decisions around football staff, it is not good news.”