Manly coach Des Hasler’s secret bonus for finishing in top four

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Sea Eagles head coach, Des Hasler has heaped praise on fullback Tom Trbojevic ahead of their finals match against the @storm.​


We vaguely remember Manly’s poor start to the season; that club legends reckoned the wooden spoon was a given; that coach Des Hasler was under pressure to keep his job.

We easily forget the ugly contract dispute between coach and club. Hasler wanted a long-term deal and more money; the club wanted as many get-out clauses as it could and, after getting thumped in the first four rounds, you could understand why.

Manly were also still chastened by Trent Barrett’s departure, which cost them plenty of money while he was pottering around on gardening leave.

Manly coach Des Hasler has triggered a bonus by finishing in the top four. Now he can get a haircut.

The Hasler deal was described to me at the time as a “complex deal for a complex coach at a complex club”. Already signed until the end of 2022, Hasler’s extension contained a clause that meant a top-eight finish in 2021 triggered a one-year extension for 2023.

Complex? It sounded like the Sea Eagles having a bet each-way.

The impasse threatened to make a rough start to the season even rougher, but Manly and Hasler got the deal done.

We might have forgotten all that, but you can bet Hasler has not.

Reaching the top eight secured a contract extension for 2023. Reaching the top four triggers a monetary bonus, something that will surely put a smile on the face of the famously frugal coach, who was once late to a dinner as he circled the block waiting for free parking to kick in.

The Sea Eagles’ resurgence sets up a delicious qualifying final against a familiar nemesis in Melbourne at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Friday night.

It’s simplistic to pin Manly’s run solely on the rare form of fullback Tom Trbojevic, even if he entirely deserves the acclaim he’s receiving and the Dally M he should collect in grand final week.

Yet Hasler deserves credit, too, if only for the fact he’s got five-eighth Kieran Foran going again.

The late Bob Fulton told a troubled Foran to leave the Warriors and join Hasler at the Bulldogs because no coach understood him better.

Hasler was sacked before Foran arrived at Belmore in 2018 but they’ve finally reunited and Foran, with his body and mind finally right, looks like a footballer playing purely for the love of the game again. At 31. Some story.

Apart from being a wise head for Manly’s abundantly talented yet abundantly raw younger players, Foran plays like an old-school half: direct, digging into the line, setting up outside players without fear of being whacked by the defence.

Hasler will deflect any praise that comes his way. He loathes talking about himself, let alone his contract. Manly also won’t talk about his complex deal, which is fair enough.

But another conversation will be needed soon if the Sea Eagles go deep into the finals, as many expect. Hasler is contracted until the end of 2023. There’s nothing beyond that but a vague reference to a “consultancy” role.

Kieran Foran has experienced a renaissance since returning to the club where he made his name.CREDIT:GETTY
It remains unclear how much longer he wants to coach. He’s 61 in February and says he doesn’t want to be Wayne Bennett, 71, and coach forever, which Craig Bellamy, who’s 61, said to me in an interview — 12 years ago.

Coaches coach. What else in life is there to do? Golf? Lawn bowls? Sleep?

Manly need to keep Hasler around for as long as possible, that much is clear. Few understand the place like he does.

Consider the scene at the Twin Waters Resort on the Sunshine Coast at the moment.

After serving as headquarters for the Storm last year, the resort currently hosts the Panthers, Roosters, Knights and Sea Eagles.

Our spies report the players are sticking to type even if they are hundreds of kilometres from home.
The Roosters, gritting their teeth through a tough season, are often locked in conversation over coffee.

The Panthers, full of youthful vim, are skulking around with music blaring from their boom box.

The Knights have been low-key, almost shy and nervous after limping into the finals with a string of unconvincing performances.

Then there’s the Sea Eagles.

They look like they’re on holidays, lazing around the pool, some of them sucking on vapes, without a care in the world and certainly not daunted about taking on the defending premiers in the first week of the finals.

You can take the boys out of Manly, but you can’t take Manly out of the boys. Nor can you take it out of Des Hasler.

 

Sea Eagles head coach, Des Hasler has heaped praise on fullback Tom Trbojevic ahead of their finals match against the @storm.​


We vaguely remember Manly’s poor start to the season; that club legends reckoned the wooden spoon was a given; that coach Des Hasler was under pressure to keep his job.

We easily forget the ugly contract dispute between coach and club. Hasler wanted a long-term deal and more money; the club wanted as many get-out clauses as it could and, after getting thumped in the first four rounds, you could understand why.

Manly were also still chastened by Trent Barrett’s departure, which cost them plenty of money while he was pottering around on gardening leave.

Manly coach Des Hasler has triggered a bonus by finishing in the top four. Now he can get a haircut.

The Hasler deal was described to me at the time as a “complex deal for a complex coach at a complex club”. Already signed until the end of 2022, Hasler’s extension contained a clause that meant a top-eight finish in 2021 triggered a one-year extension for 2023.

Complex? It sounded like the Sea Eagles having a bet each-way.

The impasse threatened to make a rough start to the season even rougher, but Manly and Hasler got the deal done.

We might have forgotten all that, but you can bet Hasler has not.

Reaching the top eight secured a contract extension for 2023. Reaching the top four triggers a monetary bonus, something that will surely put a smile on the face of the famously frugal coach, who was once late to a dinner as he circled the block waiting for free parking to kick in.

The Sea Eagles’ resurgence sets up a delicious qualifying final against a familiar nemesis in Melbourne at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Friday night.

It’s simplistic to pin Manly’s run solely on the rare form of fullback Tom Trbojevic, even if he entirely deserves the acclaim he’s receiving and the Dally M he should collect in grand final week.

Yet Hasler deserves credit, too, if only for the fact he’s got five-eighth Kieran Foran going again.

The late Bob Fulton told a troubled Foran to leave the Warriors and join Hasler at the Bulldogs because no coach understood him better.

Hasler was sacked before Foran arrived at Belmore in 2018 but they’ve finally reunited and Foran, with his body and mind finally right, looks like a footballer playing purely for the love of the game again. At 31. Some story.

Apart from being a wise head for Manly’s abundantly talented yet abundantly raw younger players, Foran plays like an old-school half: direct, digging into the line, setting up outside players without fear of being whacked by the defence.

Hasler will deflect any praise that comes his way. He loathes talking about himself, let alone his contract. Manly also won’t talk about his complex deal, which is fair enough.

But another conversation will be needed soon if the Sea Eagles go deep into the finals, as many expect. Hasler is contracted until the end of 2023. There’s nothing beyond that but a vague reference to a “consultancy” role.

Kieran Foran has experienced a renaissance since returning to the club where he made his name.CREDIT:GETTY
It remains unclear how much longer he wants to coach. He’s 61 in February and says he doesn’t want to be Wayne Bennett, 71, and coach forever, which Craig Bellamy, who’s 61, said to me in an interview — 12 years ago.

Coaches coach. What else in life is there to do? Golf? Lawn bowls? Sleep?

Manly need to keep Hasler around for as long as possible, that much is clear. Few understand the place like he does.

Consider the scene at the Twin Waters Resort on the Sunshine Coast at the moment.

After serving as headquarters for the Storm last year, the resort currently hosts the Panthers, Roosters, Knights and Sea Eagles.

Our spies report the players are sticking to type even if they are hundreds of kilometres from home.
The Roosters, gritting their teeth through a tough season, are often locked in conversation over coffee.

The Panthers, full of youthful vim, are skulking around with music blaring from their boom box.

The Knights have been low-key, almost shy and nervous after limping into the finals with a string of unconvincing performances.

Then there’s the Sea Eagles.

They look like they’re on holidays, lazing around the pool, some of them sucking on vapes, without a care in the world and certainly not daunted about taking on the defending premiers in the first week of the finals.

You can take the boys out of Manly, but you can’t take Manly out of the boys. Nor can you take it out of Des Hasler.

One more premiership and he goes to five - equal with Bozo.
 
Yeah it surprised me that bit about vapes too.

I thought smoking amongst professional sports people went out in the 90s when the competition for top spots fiercened & the tiniest edge in fitness was valued greatly now?

Not to mention I've heard they're actually worse for you than durries but kudos to anyone who can still play at that level despite being a durrymuncher/vapesucker.
 
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Sea Eagles head coach, Des Hasler has heaped praise on fullback Tom Trbojevic ahead of their finals match against the @storm.​


We vaguely remember Manly’s poor start to the season; that club legends reckoned the wooden spoon was a given; that coach Des Hasler was under pressure to keep his job.

We easily forget the ugly contract dispute between coach and club. Hasler wanted a long-term deal and more money; the club wanted as many get-out clauses as it could and, after getting thumped in the first four rounds, you could understand why.

Manly were also still chastened by Trent Barrett’s departure, which cost them plenty of money while he was pottering around on gardening leave.

Manly coach Des Hasler has triggered a bonus by finishing in the top four. Now he can get a haircut.

The Hasler deal was described to me at the time as a “complex deal for a complex coach at a complex club”. Already signed until the end of 2022, Hasler’s extension contained a clause that meant a top-eight finish in 2021 triggered a one-year extension for 2023.

Complex? It sounded like the Sea Eagles having a bet each-way.

The impasse threatened to make a rough start to the season even rougher, but Manly and Hasler got the deal done.

We might have forgotten all that, but you can bet Hasler has not.

Reaching the top eight secured a contract extension for 2023. Reaching the top four triggers a monetary bonus, something that will surely put a smile on the face of the famously frugal coach, who was once late to a dinner as he circled the block waiting for free parking to kick in.

The Sea Eagles’ resurgence sets up a delicious qualifying final against a familiar nemesis in Melbourne at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Friday night.

It’s simplistic to pin Manly’s run solely on the rare form of fullback Tom Trbojevic, even if he entirely deserves the acclaim he’s receiving and the Dally M he should collect in grand final week.

Yet Hasler deserves credit, too, if only for the fact he’s got five-eighth Kieran Foran going again.

The late Bob Fulton told a troubled Foran to leave the Warriors and join Hasler at the Bulldogs because no coach understood him better.

Hasler was sacked before Foran arrived at Belmore in 2018 but they’ve finally reunited and Foran, with his body and mind finally right, looks like a footballer playing purely for the love of the game again. At 31. Some story.

Apart from being a wise head for Manly’s abundantly talented yet abundantly raw younger players, Foran plays like an old-school half: direct, digging into the line, setting up outside players without fear of being whacked by the defence.

Hasler will deflect any praise that comes his way. He loathes talking about himself, let alone his contract. Manly also won’t talk about his complex deal, which is fair enough.

But another conversation will be needed soon if the Sea Eagles go deep into the finals, as many expect. Hasler is contracted until the end of 2023. There’s nothing beyond that but a vague reference to a “consultancy” role.

Kieran Foran has experienced a renaissance since returning to the club where he made his name.CREDIT:GETTY
It remains unclear how much longer he wants to coach. He’s 61 in February and says he doesn’t want to be Wayne Bennett, 71, and coach forever, which Craig Bellamy, who’s 61, said to me in an interview — 12 years ago.

Coaches coach. What else in life is there to do? Golf? Lawn bowls? Sleep?

Manly need to keep Hasler around for as long as possible, that much is clear. Few understand the place like he does.

Consider the scene at the Twin Waters Resort on the Sunshine Coast at the moment.

After serving as headquarters for the Storm last year, the resort currently hosts the Panthers, Roosters, Knights and Sea Eagles.

Our spies report the players are sticking to type even if they are hundreds of kilometres from home.
The Roosters, gritting their teeth through a tough season, are often locked in conversation over coffee.

The Panthers, full of youthful vim, are skulking around with music blaring from their boom box.

The Knights have been low-key, almost shy and nervous after limping into the finals with a string of unconvincing performances.

Then there’s the Sea Eagles.

They look like they’re on holidays, lazing around the pool, some of them sucking on vapes, without a care in the world and certainly not daunted about taking on the defending premiers in the first week of the finals.

You can take the boys out of Manly, but you can’t take Manly out of the boys. Nor can you take it out of Des Hasler.

My vape is medicinal .. just sayin
 
Not to mention I've heard they're actually worse for you than durries
My mate, a long time smoker, switched to a vape a couple of years ago, He swears he can breath better, and from personal observation he doesn't puff as much when we walk up stairs, methinks the tobacco industry is still actively up to its old tricks when it comes to vaping, even in a dying market the tobacco industry wants every last cent.
 
My mate, a long time smoker, switched to a vape a couple of years ago, He swears he can breath better, and from personal observation he doesn't puff as much when we walk up stairs, methinks the tobacco industry is still actively up to its old tricks when it comes to vaping, even in a dying market the tobacco industry wants every last cent.
I've heard the longterm effect of vaping is akin to consumption - a condition they call "popcorn lung" - due to the fluid vaping causes to build up in users lungs.
 
A mate of mine who is a Parramatta supporter bumped the whole Parra squad in a pub just before Christmas. He said that Moses, Paulo ,Ferguson were just chain smoking all night. He reckons Fergo would have had 30, so I guess a vape is not too bad
 
Team P W L PD Pts
3 3 0 48 6
4 3 1 28 6
3 2 1 10 6
4 2 2 39 4
3 2 1 28 4
3 2 1 15 4
3 2 1 14 4
2 1 1 13 4
2 1 1 6 4
3 2 1 -3 4
3 1 2 0 2
3 1 2 -5 2
3 1 2 -15 2
3 1 2 -22 2
3 1 2 -36 2
2 0 2 -56 2
3 0 3 -64 0
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