Gold Coast Titans coach Des Hasler set to survive another two weeks as he approaches 500-game milestone
Des Hasler has been called a dead man walking on the Gold Coast but the embattled Titans coach is set to survive another two weeks as he closes in on an NRL milestone.
Embattled Titans coach Des Hasler is set to survive for at least another fortnight on the Gold Coast as he closes in on an NRL milestone.
Hasler is facing the axe with the Titans outright last on the NRL ladder and staring at a third wooden spoon following a disastrous 2025 campaign.
A performance clause in Hasler’s contract gives the Titans the power to terminate his employment with a year to run once Gold Coast is out of NRL finals contention this season.
That is arguably now given the Titans would have to win all eight of their remaining matches by significant margins to be any chance to featuring in the play-offs.
But Hasler is expected to remain in the role for the near future so he can celebrate his 500th game as head coach of an NRL club.
Hasler, 64, will bring up game number 499 on Sunday against the battling Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval where the Titans will look to snap a three-game losing streak.
The Titans then head across the ditch to face the Warriors in Auckland on Saturday week in what will be Hasler’s 500th game.
Hasler coached Manly 303 times across two different stints from 2004-11 and 2019-22, the first yielding two NRL titles (2008 and 11).
He spent six years in charge of Canterbury (2012-17), adding 155 games to his tally, and has coached the Titans 40 times for a measly 12 wins over the past two seasons.
Despite the dramatic crash of the Titans it would be a ruthless call by the club to sack Hasler before he can bring up his 500-game milestone, especially given it would likely be the end of his NRL coaching career.
The only other coaches to reach 500 games are Wayne Bennett (955), Tim Sheens (693), Craig Bellamy (592), Brian Smith (601) and Ricky Stuart (533).
The Titans reported for training on Tuesday to review Sunday’s lacklustre 26-14 loss to the Broncos and backrower Beau Fermor said the error-riddled playing group had to look at themselves.
“Des isn’t the one that’s out there missing tackles, dropping balls and all of those things that are letting us down on the weekend,” he said.
“He puts in more effort than anyone else at this club. I don’t think it’s Des’ fault that we’re sitting where we are, it’s us as a playing group and we need to stick together and work our way out of it.
“There’s not a whole lot he can do on game day from a coach’s box.
“We’re just struggling to put together an 80-minute performance. We’re good in patches, and then we fall asleep in patches and teams run away with wins
“I’m not 100 per cent sure what the answer is or why. It’s disappointing but I know that as a playing group we got ourselves into this situation and we’re the only ones that can fight our way out of it.”
Hasler was recruited at the expense of Justin Holbrook to instil a harder edge to the weak Titans.
The appointment has failed.
Gold Coast’s lack of resilience was once again on show against the Broncos in some limp defensive efforts that cost the Titans.
Hasler appears to have lost the support of some players and key figures at the Titans as well, although players were presenting a united front on Tuesday.
“We all love Des and he’s our coach at the moment and we love that and hopefully he stays on for next year,” hooker Sam Verrills said.
“It’s the players on the field at the moment. Des can’t control the errors. We need to be better this week.
“If you’re coming last there’s always going to be speculation about everyone.
“It doesn’t really affect us as a playing group. We love coming to training, we’re all best mates here.
“We love our coaching staff and we love Des, so it doesn’t affect us at all.
“Winning games changes everything and we really need to do that this week.”
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