Hasler confident Manly can get over the line at old stomping ground
SYDNEY: If anyone knows Homebush, it’s the coach who used to call it home.
That’s why Des Hasler has no fear of entering ANZ Stadium when his Manly side faces South Sydney in their NRL semifinal tonight (9:50pm NZT).
The Sea Eagles have lost their past nine games at the Sydney Olympic venue and their last win was against, of all teams, the Rabbitohs, in 2013.
‘‘There’s not much you can do about that now, so you just gotta keep looking forward,’’ Hasler said yesterday.
‘‘Someone else said that we don’t win night games at Brookie Oval, but we won there last week. So there’s hopefully we can do that again [tonight].’’
And Hasler has every reason to feel confident, having won more NRL games at the stadium than any other mentor in league history.
Hasler, who called ANZ Stadium home for six years as Canterbury coach, has won 60 of his 100 games at the 83,500capacity ground.
That’s a dozen more than the next best, the late former Bull
We won there last week [so] hopefully
we can do that again
Des Hasler
dogs coach Steve Folkes, and 16 more than Wests Tigers and exRabbitohs coach Michael Maguire.
But when it comes to winning percentages, Hasler has some competition.
His 60% strike rate ranks third behind Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson (71%), and current South Sydney mentor Wayne Bennett (60.1%)
If the Sea Eagles knock the Rabbitohs this evening, Hasler will overtake Bennett.
Hasler’s side will also then be 80 minutes away from the grand final, a feat the twotime premiershipwinning coach is already eyeing up.
This year’s decider will be the last played at the ANZ Stadium before it undergoes a reconstruction after next year’s State of Origin series.
‘‘I like the stadium, ANZ. I think the changes that they’re going to institute [are] going to make it even better,’’ Hasler said.
‘‘At the end of the day, ANZ is where the big one’s played. For our players, it’s just another step closer to that. [We’re] two games away.’’
Manly has split its two games against South Sydney this year, the last of which was a thrilling onepoint defeat at ANZ Stadium.
‘‘Earlier in the year, it was round three or four, and the second game was in the middle of Origin. I don’t know if you can take too much out of that,’’ Hasler said.
‘‘Both sides have got different personnel, as well.
‘‘It’ll come down to how both sides and the main stakeholders in those sides, how they manage the game. That’s what it’ll come down to.’’ — AAP