Dogs of war into fight with Hasler

DES Hasler and the Bulldogs are heading for a $2.4 million legal showdown after the former coach lodged a statement of claim in the NSW Supreme Court.

Hasler, who is insisting the Bulldogs breached their contract by sacking him, will become the first NRL coach to take out a lawsuit since Tim Sheens took action against the Wests Tigers five years ago.

That case took two years to be resolved. The Tigers and Sheens reached an agreement after he had filed for unfair dismissal in late 2012.

Hasler and his legal representatives are confident that his case against the Bulldogs won’t be as protracted.

The claim, worth $2.4 million, comes two months after Hasler was sacked. The club spruiked Hasler’s two-year contract extension via a press release in April but ousted him after the club’s 2017 season.

Hasler reached an agreement to stay on as Dogs coach to the end of 2019 for an estimated $1.2 million a season.

Yesterday afternoon, the Bulldogs confirmed they had received the court documents and chairman Ray Dib said the club would defend the matter.