Des shown door in shock at Sea Eagles
THE Manly Sea Eagles have sensationally sacked coach Des Hasler in a bitter split and are poised to replace the club legend with ex-South Sydney and Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold.
The board met on Thursday morning and made the decision to part ways with the coach, despite Hasler agreeing to a host of changes for next season.
The veteran coach – who has a reputation as a micromanager but managed to deliver the Sea Eagles premierships in 2008 and 2011 – was willing to give back some control and work alongside Seibold.
But the board decided it was done with the “damaging media” and the club will reportedly pay Hasler out nearly $1m.
As things stand, Seibold remains the England rugby union side’s defence coach and will fly to London this weekend.
Hasler coached Manly between 2004 and 2011 and after a six-season stint at the Bulldogs he returned in 2019, taking the Sea Eagles to a topfour finish last year.
Hasler was contracted until the end of 2023 and a top-six finish this year would have triggered the 2024 option in his deal. But the pride jersey saga derailed the Sea Eagles’ 2022 campaign as they lost their final seven games to finish 11th.
Manly were firmly in the finals race heading into round 20 before Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olaka’uatu Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley all boycotted the clash against the Roosters on religious grounds.
Hasler has been at war with Manly officials ever since and is now expected to take legal action against the club.
Manly owner Scott Penn after the pride jersey saga backed Hasler as the club’s long-term coach, claiming “Des has a contract for as long as he wants”.
But things quickly fell apart afterwards, with a peace meeting between Hasler, Penn and club chief executive Tony Mestrov failing to find a resolution last month.
Manly legend Mark ‘Spudd’ Carroll labelled Hasler’s sacking as “unbelievable”, declaring that the coach “bleeds maroon and white”.
“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 1170 Afternoons.
“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.”