‘Unbelievable’: NRL world reacts to ‘farcical’ Des Hasler sacking from Manly Sea Eagles

The NRL world has described Des Hasler’s sacking as Manly coach “farcical” as the Sea Eagles enter crisis mode and come under criticism.

Manly is in complete turmoil after the Sea Eagles sensationally sacked coach Des Hasler on Thursday.

After months of negotiations, legal threats and chaos, the Sea Eagles confirmed Hasler’s employment has been terminated immediately with a year to run on his contract.

Former Rabbitohs and Broncos coach Anthony Seibold appears poised to take over as Manly coach.

Watch every match of the Rugby League World Cup LIVE & Exclusive to Fox Sports, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

But the saga is set to drag on with reports Hasler is considering taking legal action against the club over the sacking and its decision to implement the pride jersey without him being consulted by the football department.

It was a dramatic way for Manly’s favourite son to depart. Hasler, who won two premierships with Manly as a player in 1987 and 1996, led his former team to premierships as a coach in 2008 and 2011.

He famously quit the club to join the Bulldogs and returned to the club in 2019, but has been unable to deliver the same success.

Star brothers Tom and Jake Trbojevic, who are close to Hasler, were concerned the club was imploding and their future at Manly is under question now the coach has been sacked.

The Sea Eagles racked up seven-straight losses in the wake of the rainbow jersey drama which saw seven of the team’s best players withdraw from their Round 20 match against the Roosters on religious and cultural grounds.

Des Hasler may have coached his last NRL game. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

The horror end to Manly’s season put the spotlight firmly on Hasler after the Sea Eagles refused to give the two-time premiership winning mentor a contract extension.

Hasler fronted the media to address the pride jersey saga but was said to be furious Manly’s football department hadn’t informed him of the plan to wear the jerseys.

Sea Eagles legend Mark Carroll, who played alongside Hasler in the 1996 premiership side, said the decision not to tell Hasler about the pride jersey ultimately sealed his fate.

“It’s unbelievable, it all comes down to the pride jersey, they said it won’t derail us, of course it derailed them, they went down the back door (after it),” Carroll said on SEN.

“Dessy got up and spoke in front of the media, that wasn’t his position to do, why wasn’t the CEO or the boss of Manly doing that, why did Dessy have to put his neck on the line, he spoke fantastically, it was probably the best one he’s ever done.

“I can’t believe he’s actually had to fall on his sword, he bleeds maroon and white, Dessy has done everything for that club, what they have in the future, I have no idea.

“You don’t make a jersey overnight, why didn’t Dessy know about this information? Someone else made a decision and it’s cost him his job.

“Knowing Des the way he is he’ll brush (himself) off and he’ll find another gig, he’s a really good coach and his numbers speak for what he has achieved.

Jake (left) and Tom Trbojevic (right) were concerned about the club. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

“The players are going to be hurting they all love him, he’s a funny little bloke, the mad scientist, but players want to run through brick walls for him, that’s Des Hasler.”

The ordeal reportedly created a split in the Manly playing ranks that hasn’t been mended.

“There’s still a split in the ranks, as far as I’m concerned, over the pride jersey – the fact that seven players who boycotted that game against the Roosters are still to address their position publicly,” The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield told Fox Sports News.

“Not one of them has said a word since. Internally, with all these meetings they’ve had with the players who did play in that game, I don’t think they’re totally satisfied with the response they’ve had from those players.

“It was a total breakdown in trust.

“Anthony Seibold has a big job to do. I think he’s capable of doing it. I can see Manly all pulling in the right direction when their players get back from the World Cup in the new year.”

“Anthony Seibold did very well at Souths, he was Dally M coach of the year. He went to Brisbane and he didn’t handle it well up there, he wasn’t with his family. He lives on the northern beaches. I think he’ll learn from the experience with Eddie Jones and the England team in rugby union.

“I think he’ll do a good job. He’s not going to just walk in there and expect everything to be OK.”

Manly has had a high turnover of CEOs in recent years and the Sea Eagles’ hierarchy — chairman Scott Penn and CEO Tony Mestrov has come under scrutiny for its handling of the crisis.

Manly has been criticised for its handling of the crisis.

“Manly have created this monster in a sense,” NewsCorp NRL editor Adam Mobbs told The Daily Telegraph NRL podcast.

They’ve gone through how many CEOs in the last few years, they’ve had no direction, Des has almost had to take on these roles and responsibilities.

Journalist Michael Carayannis described the situation as “untenable”.

“There’s no doubt they need(ed) to pull the band-aid off, get it done, move on from Des Hasler,” he said.

Rugby league pundits also believe the decision to sack Hasler, who won more than half his games in charge, won’t go down well with the majority of Manly fans.

2GB host Mark Levy tweeted: “Manly board sacks a coach with a winning record who’s won two premierships with the club as a player and two premierships as a coach.

“Talk about the ultimate slap in the face. I hope the chair (if he doesn’t head straight back to the US) is bracing for the backlash from fans.”

Best description of the Des Hasler situation:

"Thursday’s decision ends a turbulent period for the club that started with the “Everyone in League” jersey saga."

— Brett McKay (@BMcSport) October 13, 2022

Many believe Hasler may have coached his last game in the NRL.

Sports reporter Bernie Coen said: “No surprise that @SeaEagles have cut ties with Des Hasler. The whole thing was becoming farcical.

“I like Dessie .. quirky, great footy brain, but I think his coaching days may be over. You can’t have the control he wanted and his last 3 stints have ended badly.”

Farewell from the plastic seats at Brookie you nutty-as-a-fruitcake genius Des Hasler. Across nearly 40 years on and off at Manly there were many great moments, some pretty ordinary moments, but rarely a dull one.

— Bernard Zuel (@BernardZuel) October 13, 2022

idk how much of manlys problems can be blamed on des hasler but go off I guess

— lavender baj (@lavosaurus) October 13, 2022