Titans coach Des Hasler reveals he has no plans to retire ahead of 500-game coaching milestone

Des Hasler becomes just the sixth coach in NRL history to crash through the 500-game barrier this weekend, but while the axe hovers over his head at the struggling Titans, Hasler insists he’s not ready to end his career yet.

He might be under pressure heading into his 500th game as an NRL coach but Des Hasler has no plans to retire.

Far from being a coach willing to fade away into the sunset, Hasler said defiantly: “I want to coach on.”

The two-time premiership-winning coach has vowed to continue his career despite the axe hovering over his head as Gold Coast run last on the NRL competition table.

Hasler will become just the sixth NRL coach to reach the 500-game milestone when Gold Coast plays the Warriors in Auckland on Saturday.

A former Manly and Bulldogs coach, the 64-year-old joins Wayne Bennett (956 matches), Tim Sheens (693), Brian Smith (601), Craig Bellamy (594) and Ricky Stuart (534) in reaching the 500-match barrier. Bennett, Bellamy and Stuart are still coaching.

At one stage, Hasler’s sides contested five grand finals in eight years.

Des Hasler wants to keep coaching.

“I’m enjoying coaching and I will continue,” Hasler said.

“There’s a real purpose in what you’re trying to do. There’s the interaction and it’s about the people involved. That’s the reason I enjoy coaching.

“Coaching is about how you want to relate to people. It’s about the relationship and connections that you form. There’s no road map to coaching.

“It’s also been about the impact you have on lives of players and staff.

“I want to coach on.”

Asked whether he would coach Gold Coast next season, Hasler said: “I’m contracted next year.”

It’s been a tough year on the Gold Coast for Des Hasler and the Titans. Picture: NRL Photos

Hasler spoke passionately about his career and what he has extracted from coaching

“Rugby league … I have enjoyed every moment,” he said. “That’s from playing and then graduating through to be an NRL coach.

“Apart from having a little bit of success along the way, along with the accolades, highs and lows, it’s about the people that you’ve met.”

Hasler has endured one those “lows” this season, culminating in a post-game explosion at his players after a one-point loss to Wests Tigers last Sunday — a moment he did not want to reflect upon.

Des Hasler blows up in the Titans sheds

Most would agree Hasler’s greatest coaching moment over 499 games was Manly’s 40-0 win over Melbourne in the 2008 grand final having lost the decider to the year before to a Storm side that was later stripped of the title due to salary cap breaches.

He would coach the Sea Eagles to another title in 2011 with a win over the Warriors and then take the Bulldogs to grand finals in 2012 and 2014.

In a 288-game first grade career as a player, he won premierships at Manly in 1987 and 1996 and played 12 Tests for Australia.

Hasler berating his beaten players after last Sunday’s loss — ordering them into the showers before demanding they return — was classic Des. The NRL’s mad professor has had some spectacular fallouts amid the grand final fanfare.

He stunned Manly when he quit the club after taking them to the 2011 title to join the Bulldogs on a big-money deal. But he was back at Brookvale in 2019 after a split from the Bulldogs that ended up in the courts. His second Manly exit was no less bitter in 2022 but he remains one of the club’s favourite sons.

Manly coach Des Hasler gets doused in Powerade after winning the 2011 NRL grand final. Picture: NRL Photos

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys this week praised Hasler who took his traits as a player into the coaching ranks.

“What you get with Des is a combination of toughness and a deep commitment to preparation and detail. It is often overlooked just how technical and analytical Des is as a coach, and his toughness and meticulous approach to his game as a player has carried into his coaching career,” said ARLC chairman Peter V’landys.

“He has played at the highest levels of our game, won premierships as a player and coach at Manly and now he takes his deserved place on a list of the most accomplished coaches in the game’s history to reach 500 games.”

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo added: “As a player and coach, Des has been one of the game’s toughest competitors.

“His deep knowledge and passion for the game, his ability to connect and care for players and his innovative coaching techniques has resulted in Des becoming just the sixth coach in the history of the game to coach 500 NRL matches.

“Des was one of the early adopters of sports science and performance technology and has always been good at motivating and developing players.”

Originally published as Titans coach Des Hasler reveals he has no plans to retire ahead of 500-game coaching milestone