‘Should be ashamed’: Fordham takes a swipe after Manly fiasco

Radio personality Ben Fordham has unleashed his fury over Manly’s coaching fiasco in an extraordinary rant.

Ben Fordham and Des Hasler.

Ben Fordham has unleashed his fury over Manly’s shambolic coaching fiasco that has resulted in Des Hasler being sacked on the spot.

Manly fans are up in arms and threatening to cancel their memberships in the wake of the club’s dramatic decision to sack one of its favourite sons.

After months of negotiations, legal threats and chaos, the Sea Eagles confirmed on Thursday Hasler’s contract has been torn up with more than a year left to run.

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Former Rabbitohs and Broncos coach Anthony Seibold is the odds-on favourite to take over as Manly coach despite his own recent struggles with the political infighting and ruthless media pressure that came with coaching Brisbane before he was also sacked in 2020.

Seibold, currently an assistant coach for the England rugby union team under Eddie Jones, faces a tumultuous start to his Sea Eagles coaching reign, with star players Tom and Jake Trbojevic known to be unsettled by the dismissal of their much-loved coach.

However his problems will extend far beyond the playing group as he faces the monumental task of uniting not only a fractured club, but also a divided supporter group.

Hundreds of fans have made their displeasure known in the past 24 hours, with many saying they would go as far as cancelling their membership after witnessing the brutal axing of a man who won two premierships for the club as a player in 1987 and 1996 and two more as a coach in 2008 and 2011.

Fordham on Friday morning joined the crowd in demanding answers from the club’s owner and chairman Scott Penn.

Sea Eagles coach, Des Hasler speaks to the media following the round 25 NRL match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Manly Sea Eagles.

The 2GB presenter said the club is still headed for disaster after Hasler’s termination.

He was particularly scathing of reports Hasler learned of his sacking when scrolling through a news website.

“I know that professional sport is brutal and rugby league has a history of tough decisions, but the move by Manly to sack club legend Des Hasler is ordinary, particularly when you have a look at the way they’ve done it,” he said.

“The board made the call, but they didn’t call Des. Before they contacted Des Hasler, it was leaked to the press. That is an appalling way to treat anyone, let alone a club legend like Des Hasler.

“It’s kind of typical of the way that Manly does business.”

He said Hasler “took a bullet” for the club when he fronted the press during the club’s pride jersey storm.

“True leadership is something that is now missing at the Manly Sea Eagles because Hasler is now gone. A 40-year club legend thrown on the scrap heap. The Manly board should be ashamed of themselves.

“You’re headed for even more trouble.”

Hasler’s legendary playing and coaching record meant little on Thursday as the board voted to terminate his contract, and now sections of the supporter group are absolute fuming with many pointing the finger at Penn.

A Manly fan holds up a sign during the round six NRL match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Gold Coast Titans at 4 Pines Park.

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.

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.

There have been reports the matter is now set to become a legal dispute over the pay-out Hasler will receive for having his contract terminated early.

Originally published as ‘Should be ashamed’: Fordham takes a swipe after Manly fiasco